When Is Sea Turtle Nesting Season? | Sea Turtle Nesting In Florida | Stuff We Love | Turtle & Tortoise Activities | FAQ
- Sea turtles have been swimming in Earth’s oceans for more than 100 million years.
- Some sea turtles migrate thousands of miles between feeding and nesting areas.
- Hatchlings use the light from the horizon over the ocean to find their way to the water.
- Sea turtles cannot pull their heads completely into their shells like many land turtles.
- A female sea turtle may lay over 100 eggs in a single nest.
June is for sea turtles!
June marks one of the most exciting times of the year for ocean lovers and wildlife watchers—sea turtle nesting season! Along beaches around the world, female sea turtles are returning to the shores where they were born to lay their eggs. For families, educators, and young nature explorers, it’s the perfect opportunity to learn about these incredible ocean travelers and the important role they play in marine ecosystems.
Quick Sea Turtle Quiz!
False — Sea turtles cannot pull completely into their shells.
True
True
True
🌊 1 Correct = Sea Turtle Expert!
🏖️ 2 Correct = Beach Biologist!
🐢 3 Correct = Ocean Explorer!
⭐ 4 Correct = Future Turtle Scientist!
Free Sea Turtle Nesting Season – Facts + Coloring + Imagination Activity
What Is Sea Turtle Nesting Season?
Sea turtle nesting season is the time of year when female sea turtles come ashore to dig nests in the sand and lay their eggs. Depending on the species and location, nesting seasons vary around the world, but June is one of the busiest months for sea turtle activity.
Most female sea turtles nest every 2–4 years, laying several nests during a single season. After about 45–70 days, tiny hatchlings emerge and make their famous journey toward the ocean.
Give sea turtles plenty of room—about the length of a school bus or three cars parked in a row. That helps them stay calm and safe.
In Florida, sea turtles are protected by both the federal Endangered Species Act and Florida’s Marine Turtle Protection Act. It is illegal to:
- Touch a sea turtle
- Pick up a hatchling (baby turtle)
- Feed a sea turtle
- Ride or chase a sea turtle
- Block a nesting turtle’s path
- Disturb, damage, or dig up a nest
- Take eggs, shells, or turtle parts
- Harass a turtle in the water or on the beach
How Close Can You Get?
Florida wildlife officials recommend staying at least 50 feet away from nesting sea turtles. If the turtle changes what it’s doing because of your presence, you’re too close.
What If a Turtle Is Injured?
Report injured, entangled, stranded, or harassed sea turtles to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Wildlife Alert Hotline:
888-404-FWCC (3922).
Which Sea Turtles Are Nesting in June?
Different species of sea turtles can be found nesting in different parts of the world during June.
Sea Turtles Around The World – Coloring and Fact Sheets
Loggerhead Sea Turtle
Where you’ll find them in June:
- Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas (USA)
- Mediterranean coastlines
- Parts of Japan
Loggerhead sea turtles are one of the most common nesting turtles in Florida. They are known for their large heads and powerful jaws that help them crush crabs, shellfish, and other hard-shelled prey.
Green Sea Turtle – Info + Coloring + Turtle Tracks + Mazes
Green Sea Turtle
Where you’ll find them in June:
- Florida’s Atlantic coast
- Caribbean islands
- Hawaii
- Australia
- Costa Rica
Green sea turtles are famous for their mostly plant-based diet as adults. They help keep seagrass beds healthy by grazing on underwater vegetation.
Leatherback Sea Turtle Activities | K-5 Differentiated Reading, Vocab & Puzzles
Leatherback Sea Turtle
Where you’ll find them in June:
- Costa Rica
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Panama
- Suriname
- French Guiana
- Parts of the Pacific coast
Leatherbacks are the largest sea turtles on Earth, growing up to 7 feet long and weighing over 1,500 pounds. Unlike other sea turtles, their shells are flexible and leathery rather than hard.
Hawksbill Sea Turtle
Where you’ll find them in June:
- Caribbean reefs
- Belize
- Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula
- Seychelles
- Indonesia
Hawksbills have beautifully patterned shells and narrow beaks that help them reach food hidden inside coral reefs.
Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle Facts & Activities | Printable Ocean Science Worksheet for Kids
Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle
Where you’ll find them in June:
- Gulf Coast of Mexico
- Texas coast (USA)
Kemp’s ridleys are the smallest and rarest sea turtle species. They are famous for a nesting behavior called an arribada, where large groups of females come ashore together to nest.
Olive Ridley Sea Turtle
Where you’ll find them in June:
- Mexico
- Costa Rica
- India
- Sri Lanka
- Pacific coastlines of Central America
Olive ridleys are known for their mass nesting events, where thousands of turtles may arrive on the same beach within a few days.
Did you know…
A sea turtle has about 280–295 bones inside its body! More than 50 of those bones are part of its shell. A turtle’s shell isn’t just like armor it wears — it’s actually connected to its ribs, backbone, and shoulder bones!
Whether you live near the beach or are visiting on vacation, you can help protect nesting turtles and hatchlings.
Keep Beaches Dark
Artificial lights can confuse both nesting females and baby turtles. Turn off beachfront lights whenever possible and close curtains at night.
Fill In Holes and Flatten Sandcastles
Large holes and sand structures can trap hatchlings trying to reach the ocean.
Give Nesting Turtles Plenty of Space
If you see a sea turtle on the beach, stay at least 50 feet away and never touch or disturb her.
Leave No Trash Behind
Plastic bags, fishing line, and litter can be dangerous for sea turtles and other marine animals.
Respect Marked Nests
Many nesting areas are marked and protected by conservation groups. Avoid walking near these sites.
FREE Leatherback Sea Turtle Activity | Ocean Animals Word Search + Fun Facts (K–5)
Stuff We Love
Creative Roots Mosaic Turtle DIY Stepping Stone Kit, Includes Ceramic Stone & 6 Vibrant Paints for Kids Ages 8+
Go Wild! Sea Turtles
JANOU 20pcs Sea Turtle Shape Unfinished Wood Cutouts DIY Crafts Blank Hanging Wooden Tags Ornaments with Ropes for Summer Ocean Sea Theme Party Decoration, 3.94×3.3 in
2026 Sea Turtle Nesting In Florida
Florida is seeing exceptionally strong sea turtle nesting numbers because several positive factors have been working together for years—not just one season.
The sea turtles nesting on Florida beaches this summer may be the great-great-grandchildren of turtles protected by conservation programs that began before many parents were even born. That’s one of the clearest examples of how protecting wildlife today can make a difference decades into the future.
Decades of Conservation Efforts Are Paying Off
Sea turtles take 20–40 years to reach breeding age. Many of the turtles nesting today are benefiting from conservation programs that began decades ago, including:
- Protected nesting beaches
- Turtle-friendly lighting ordinances
- Reduced harvesting of turtles and eggs
- Improved fishing regulations that reduce accidental captures
- Habitat restoration projects
Scientists often point to long-term conservation success as the biggest reason nesting numbers are increasing.
More Adult Females Have Survived to Reproductive Age
When more hatchlings survive and more juveniles reach adulthood, more females return to nest years later. Florida hosts one of the world’s largest nesting populations of loggerhead sea turtles, so even small improvements in survival can lead to thousands of additional nests.
Strong Green Sea Turtle Recovery
Green sea turtles have shown one of the most dramatic population rebounds. Florida recorded more than 66,000 green turtle nests in 2025—the second-highest total ever recorded. Their nesting numbers have generally trended upward for decades.
Record and Near-Record Seasons Continue
Florida’s 2025 nesting season was remarkable:
- Over 100,000 loggerhead nests
- More than 66,000 green turtle nests
- A record 2,012 leatherback nests statewide
- Increasing numbers of rare Kemp’s ridley nests
Early reports from the 2026 season suggest loggerheads and leatherbacks are already ahead of recent years in some regions.
Turtle & Tortoise Activities
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What’s The Difference Between A… Turtle & Tortoise? – Facts + Games
FAQ Section
Sea turtle nesting season varies by species and location, but many sea turtles begin nesting between May and October, with June being one of the busiest months worldwide.
Florida beaches commonly host loggerhead, green, leatherback, and occasionally Kemp’s ridley sea turtles during June nesting season.
Scientists believe female sea turtles use Earth’s magnetic field and other natural cues to return to the beaches where they hatched.
Most sea turtle eggs hatch after about 45–70 days, depending on species and environmental conditions.
Stay at least 50 feet away, remain quiet, avoid flash photography, and never touch the turtle or her nest.
Sea turtles help maintain healthy seagrass beds, coral reefs, and marine food webs, making them vital to ocean health.
The Kemp’s ridley sea turtle is considered the rarest sea turtle species in the world.
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