The aftermaths of Hurricane Irma are more than anyone can imagine. Yes, houses were destroyed and lives were lost, but more than just humans were impacted.
Marine biologists recently released estimates of a number of sea turtle nests destroyed within Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge. Green turtle nests lost 56 percent of their eggs, while logger-head nests lost 24 percent. Both of these species are on the US list of endangered species and this has heavily impacted what would have been a record for nesting.
Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge is one of the most important loggerheads and green turtle nesting sites in the world. The Refuge, monitored by UCF, hosts about a third of Florida’s green turtle nests.
Green turtles are currently “threatened overharvesting of their eggs, hunting of adults, being caught in fishing gear and loss of nesting beach sites,” according to World Wild Life (WWF).
Loggerhead turtles are currently threatened by loss of nesting habitat due to coastal development, predation of nests, and human disturbances.
In fact, all seven species of turtles are considered endangered or threatened for the same reasons – humans.
Green turtles laid 15,744 nests this year, setting a new record. An estimated 8,830 of those were destroyed by the storm.
Logger-heads had laid 9,690 nests, and an estimated 2,290 nests were destroyed.
Since the hurricane, however, turtles have been coming out of the ocean to lay more nests. This doesn’t mean they’re out of danger. In fact, due to extremely high tides, some of the new nests laid have been washed away from the shore.
Due to Hurricane Irma washing away 44 percent of the nests, Kate Mansfield, assistant professor and director of the UCF Marine Turtle Research Group, says we need to continue “conservation efforts in the area.”
Since Florida is such a large nesting ground for all turtles, it’s extremely important that we are doing our very best to protect our wildlife around us.
If you live in Florida by the beach, start with not shining lights at night in your house. Close your blinds so the turtles don’t get distracted. If you find a turtle nest, try and watch out for it. By doing very little, you can help save the lives of hundreds of turtles.