Pensacola Beach's first sea turtle hatchlings of the season emerge from nest

Madison Arnold
Pensacola News Journal

Pensacola Beach saw its first sea turtle hatchlings of the season emerge from their nest Sunday evening. 

Approximately 129 loggerhead hatchlings made their way to the Gulf of Mexico after the sun set Sunday evening. Once there, hatchlings scramble to escape nearshore predators and get to the open water where they can hide and feed on floating mats of algae until they big enough to return closer to shore, according to a news release from Escambia County.

A sea turtle hatchling makes its way to the Gulf of Mexico.

The sea turtle nesting season, which begins in May and ends in October, is now about halfway over. Gulf Islands National Seashore saw its first hatchlings July 26.

The Pensacola Beach loggerhead hatchlings are separate from the much-anticipated rare Kemp's Ridley nest laid on Casino Beach. That nest, one of two Kemp's Ridley nests made on Pensacola Beach this season, was laid in May and went through Tropical Storm Cristobal.

On their way to the Gulf of Mexico, about 60% of hatchlings can become disoriented. 

Humans can contribute to their disorientation in a number of ways, including with bright lights from homes, cars and flashlights. They can also leave trash, toys or beach furniture as well as sandcastles and holes in the sand that can impede hatchlings' progress to the Gulf.

If a beachgoer comes across a nest hatching or hatchlings, they should call Escambia County Marine Resources at 850- 426-1257 and keep a safe distance.

Madison Arnold can be reached at marnold@pnj.com and 850-435-8522.