VIDEO: Watch Leatherback Sea Turtle Laying Eggs on Satellite Beach on Space Coast of Florida

Sea turtle season is March 1 - October 31

ABOVE VIDEO: Leatherback Sea Turtle Laying Eggs on Beach During Sea Turtle Season in Space Coast of Florida (Video by Ryan Clapper Photography)

BREVARD COUNTY • SATELLITE BEACH, FLORIDA — This majestic scene of the Leatherback sea turtle laying eggs in the sands of Satellite Beach was seen recently on the Space Coast.

Florida’s Space Coast is a sea turtle’s paradise, with 72 miles of coastline, there’s plenty of space for these incredible marine animals to make their nests and lay clutches upon clutches of eggs. Sea Turtle season is a particularly exciting but sensitive time on the Space Coast.

In 2023 more than 52,000 nests were counted on the beaches of Brevard County alone! From the northern-most reaches of the Canaveral National Seashore to the Beaches of the Sebastian Inlet, visitors and residents must be on high alert to protect these turtles and their nests.

Things you need to know about Sea Turtle Season

● Sea turtle season begins March 1 and goes through October 31.
● Space Coast organizations offer guided walks on the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, Merritt Island National
● Widlife Refuge, the Canaveral National Seashore and several highly trafficked beaches in between.
● The Loggerhead, Leatherback, and Green Turtles are known to nest on the Space Coast.
● The Sea Turtle Preservation Society located in Indialantic has a wealth of information about the sea turtles that make the Space Coast their nesting home.

How do You Keep the Sea Turtles Safe?
To ensure the safety of the sea turtles, there are specific measures you can take whether you see one on your own or while you are on a turtle walk.

● Do not touch or disturb nesting sea turtles, hatchlings, or their nests.
● If you dig or see a hole in the sand, refill them before you leave the beach.
● Tear down sandcastles when you’re done with them. They become huge obstacles to both nesting and hatching sea turtles.
● Do not walk on the sand dunes. Use designated crossovers and walkways and mind the signs.
● Dispose of ALL trash properly including cigarette butts.
● Lights disorient sea turtles and can cause harm to both nesting turtles and hatchlings. This means no flashlights or phone lights too!
● If you see a sea turtle injured or dead, contact the Sea Turtle Preservation Society at 321-206-0646, or the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-FWCC.

About Ryan Clapper Photography

Born December 18th, 1978, in Richmond, Indiana, Ryan moved to the Tampa area in 1980. He started taking graphic design classes in high school. In October 1997, Ryan attended Remington College in Tampa. He graduated with a degree in graphic design with honors in January 2000.

Ryan started working in my field as a designer at Valpak in April 2000 and moved to Indian Rocks Beach. Later that year, he purchased his first surfboard and surfed as much as he could. Ryan has been hooked ever since. In July 2002, he moved to Sunset Beach, Treasure Island, and started a surf report for the Gulf Coast called Gulfster.

In May 2005, Ryan took a job with Bay Publications designing real estate ads in Clearwater. He purchased his first DSLR (Canon 20D) in 2005, and my images helped put Gulfster on the map in the surfing world. In January 2008, he took a job with Eastern Surf Magazine and moved to Brevard County in search of better waves. Ryan still lives in Brevard County today.

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