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Morning Sea Turtle Nest Dig

Join us on a Sea Turtle Nest Dig

Loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta, is endangered. A nest contains about 100 eggs. Hatchlings try to avoid many predators during their escape to the open ocean, Florida. (Photo by: Mark Conlin/VW PICS/UIG via Getty Image)

The Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC) has a limited number of spaces for the public to join us on an outdoor daytime nest dig educational program.  This is an opportunity to see how sea turtle scientists study the hatching success of loggerhead sea turtle nests in the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge. Following the nest excavation, there may be an opportunity to observe a live hatchling be released into the ocean, but this cannot be guaranteed. Nest digs, also known as Public Hatch Success Evaluations, are essential to sea turtle conservation efforts because the data collected helps scientists monitor how sea turtle populations are faring with an ever-changing nesting beach environment that has been impacted by humans. Learn what you can do to help save sea turtles.

These are daytime digs conducted by STC during early mornings in August. Space is limited to 20 people. Cost is $6 per person, paid in advance, to reserve a space.

Nest digs are scheduled to start in August on every Thursday, until we cannot locate a hatched nest. Registration will be open the Monday prior to the dig, once we are sure we have a nest to dig.

Digs are planned on the following Thursdays as long as we are able to identify a nest on Monday prior to the date.

Loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta, is endangered. A nest contains about 100 eggs. Hatchlings try to avoid many predators during their escape to the open ocean, Florida. (Photo by: Mark Conlin/VW PICS/UIG via Getty Image)