Indian River County Sets Turtle Nest Record With 14,083 Nests
Indian River County recorded a record 14,083 sea turtle nests in 2026, surpassing the previous record by about 2,000 nests, with loggerheads leading the count.
Sea turtle nesting reached a record in Indian River County, Florida, in 2026, with 14,083 nests recorded as of October 22, according to a report published on October 27. The total surpassed the county previous record, set in 2023, by about 2,000 nests, according to Coastal Specialist Dakota Whalen. Loggerheads accounted for 10,045 nests, followed by 3,970 green turtle nests and 68 leatherback nests. The nesting season in the county officially ends on Halloween, though some nests may continue incubating beyond that date.
The record in Indian River County was part of a strong year across Florida. Statewide, loggerhead and leatherback nests were up, while green turtle nests declined, according to a local report on the season. Florida preliminary statewide totals showed 136,972 loggerhead nests counted as of August 31, surpassing the previous high of 134,930 nests set in 2023, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Why sea turtle nesting records matter for Florida beaches
Sea turtle nesting records matter because they show whether decades of protection are working. Florida beaches host the largest population of nesting loggerhead and green sea turtles in North America, and hatchlings face many challenges, from artificial beachfront lighting that can disorient newborns away from the surf, to predators, beach driving, furniture left on the sand and rough surf that can wash over nests.
For beach communities, a record nesting year is a reason to keep doing the small things that help turtles: using turtle-friendly lighting, removing beach equipment at night, keeping beaches clean, filling in holes and flattening sandcastles, and giving nesting turtles plenty of space. Volunteers who walk beaches at dawn, count nests, mark them and record hatchling success provide the data that make statewide records possible. Readers can support turtle patrols by keeping beaches dark at night, removing gear and giving nesting turtles plenty of space.
Source: Treasure Coast Today
