Each year, hundreds of turtles make their nests on the shores of Anna Maria Island. While it can be a great time for visitors to observe local wildlife, it’s important to remember to respect the animals’ space and activities while enjoying the beach.
Keep reading to learn more about these magical creatures and their annual arrival on Anna Maria Island.
When is turtle nesting season?
Anna Maria Island turtle nesting season typically runs from beginning of May to October, though it’s good to keep your eyes peeled for early birds and stragglers in the fringe months.
All summer long, sea turtles come ashore on Anna Maria Island to lay their eggs. Because of their status as threatened, these turtles are protected and cared for by the county and state. Loggerhead turtles are the most common type, though there is an annual population of green sea turtles, too.
You can encounter sea turtles all around the island, however, Bean Point is one of the most common places to see activity during the Anna Maria Island turtle nesting season. Bean Point is located at the northern tip of Anna Maria Island, and is the quietest and most remote of the island’s beaches – the perfect place to spot Florida wildlife. While you’re sure to see the oval-shaped holes in the sand (nests) and perhaps some unhatched eggs, it’s unlikely you’ll spot a turtle. Sea turtles come ashore to lay their eggs at night. Hatchlings also leave their nests at night, following the moon’s reflection to the sea.
Wherever you are on AMI, watch out for flagged holes in the sand. From May to October each year, local volunteers head out early in the mornings to scout out any new nests. They then mark them so that they’re less likely to be interrupted by human activity.
Rules and Regulations: How to help protect our turtles
Monitoring groups like Island Turtle Watch are asking visitors and locals alike to help them protect sea turtles on AMI’s beaches. This includes following a set of guidelines in order to ensure the turtle population can thrive. Here are the rules and regulations that must be adhered to during Anna Maria Island turtle nesting season.
- Be sure to maintain your distance – at least 50 feet – at all times from both sea turtles and their nests
- Do not use cellphones near turtles, as any flashes of light or reflection can disorient them
- Do not leave beach chairs, umbrellas, or any other objects on the sand overnight, as it obstructs the turtles’ paths
- Turn off your vacation rental lights at night, as recently-hatched turtles use the moonlight to guide them to the ocean, and artificial lights can disorient them
- Keep the beach clean – thousands of turtles die every year from ocean pollution
Plan Your Next Trip
We’d love to host you at our elegant beach rentals on Anna Maria Island. Stay for a week or a season – whatever suits your schedule. We offer more than 35 properties from the northern City of Anna Maria, to Holmes Beach, to Bradenton Beach in the south.
Fun facts
Curious about the lives and breeding patterns of sea turtles? Here are a few facts about Anna Maria Island sea turtle nesting season:
- Island Turtle Watch has protected nearly 4,500 nests along the Manatee County coastline in its more than 30 years of operation
- Sea turtles eat everything from vegetation to jellyfish and play an important role in the Florida ecosystem
- Sea turtles lay between three and six nests a season, depositing about 100 eggs in each nest
- Eggs incubate in nests for about two months
- Unhatched turtle eggs provide vital nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, to dune ecosystems
Explore AMI Rentals With Beach House Today!
We have a wide range of Anna Maria rentals that will be the ideal oasis for your family during your trip to the island. Our rentals in Anna Maria come with updated, modern furnishings, plenty of luxurious amenities, and gorgeous oceanfront views!
