Q & A: Joanna Taylor, Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge

A: Joanna Taylor, Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge
By TONY JUDNICH tony.judnich@scripps.com September 18, 2006
The Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, covering 20.5 miles from Wabasso Beach in Indian River County to Melbourne Beach in Brevard County, annually hosts the most loggerhead sea turtle nests in the Western Hemisphere and the most green sea turtle nests in the United States.
Refuge Ranger Joanna Taylor explains why loggerheads, greens and some leatherback sea turtles seem to prefer nesting at the refuge.Q: First, what are the nesting seasons?
A: Loggerheads nest April through September, greens nest June through September and leatherbacks nest March to July.

Q: How many nests are in the refuge now?
A: Through Aug. 17, we recorded 8,898 loggerhead nests in the Brevard County section of the refuge; 614 at Sebastian Inlet State Park (in Brevard and Indian River counties); and 1,184 in the Indian River County part of the refuge, south of the park. The refuge and (the Middle Eastern country) Oman have the two largest populations of loggerheads.
For greens, there were 1,079 in Brevard County, 63 in the park and 123 south of the park. For leatherbacks, which are done nesting, there were 12 nests in Brevard, one at Sebastian Inlet and six in Indian River County.

Q: Why is the refuge so popular for turtle nesting?
A: The beaches in the refuge remain rather pristine. Even though we have some private homes on them, it's not like Miami or Palm Beach County. We still have natural dunes. If turtles come up and see a seawall or bright lights, they're going to turn around and find some place else to nest. And the Indian River Lagoon is an extremely important nursery for juvenile greens.

Q: What are the biggest causes of death for the turtles?
A: Only one in 1,000 hatchlings make it to adulthood. There is natural predation by larger sport fish, sharks, birds and beach predators like raccoons and ghost crabs, and sometimes dogs. The biggest problem is human caused, such as from fishing nets and boating.

Q: What can people do to help turtles survive?
A: Do not go on the beach at night with a flashlight looking for turtles. The light is a nesting deterrent. Join a guided turtle program in June and July. Keep your dog off the beach. Dispose of trash properly. If you own a residence or business on the beach, turn off your outdoor lights after 10 p.m. and draw your curtains so interior lights don't shine on the beach. Also, park in designated parking areas, not on dune vegetation.