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Leatherback Nesting In Florida

With the exception of a few isolated nests in Franklin and Gulf counties, leatherbacks nest almost exclusively on the east coast of Florida. In fact, about 50 percent of leatherback nesting occurs in Palm Beach County.

Leatherback sea turtles are named for their rubbery shell and are the largest sea turtles. Adults can weigh between 700 and 2,000 pounds and reach 4 to 8 feet in length.

Leatherback nesting in Florida occurs from April through July. A female will nest at intervals of two to three years, laying between six to nine nests per season. They lay about 80 fertilized eggs and then cover them with a layer of about 30 unfertilized eggs. This layer serves as protection from predators like birds and raccoons and also regulates the temperature.

Over the last 13 years, there has been a significant increase in the number of leatherback nests in the state. The statewide total in 1999 was 558, representing at least 100 individual turtles. The reasons for this increase are not known, but the trend is welcome because many of the world's other leatherback nesting aggregations are in serious decline.

Click on the link below to view a table containing nesting data for leatherback turtles over the past 18 years. View Table of Statewide Leatherback Nests