Connecting You to SCCF: Sea Turtle Nests Start Hatching

June 28, 2023

Hatching Season is Here!

The first sea turtle nest hatched on our islands on June 21, and 387 sea turtle hatchlings have since emerged! We’re on track for a record-breaking season, with 855 nests laid as of today. Last year, a total of 736 nests were laid on the islands.

Sea Turtle Team Rescues Struggling Loggerhead

SCCF staff recently responded to a distressed female loggerhead that was struggling to come up for air. After diving in the water, staff helped crew members from AshBritt safely move the sea turtle to SCCF’s vehicle to transport her to Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium for rehabilitation.

Please call the SCCF Sea Turtle Hotline at 978-728-3663 if you find an injured or sick sea turtle.

WATCH VIDEO OF RESCUE

Thanks for Your Towel Donations for Sea Turtles!

Thank you to everyone who responded to our request on Monday for towels to help cover buckets that hold and protect sea turtle hatchlings. We've already received more than enough towels to fully replenish our supply that was lost to Hurricane Ian!

We are extremely grateful to have a community that is so supportive of our mission to protect and care for our sea turtles and our coastal ecosystems!

SCCF Verifies Rare Sighting of Eastern Indigo Snake

Earlier this month, SCCF confirmed the first known sighting of an eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi) on our islands since Hurricane Ian last September. These rare snakes have rapidly declined over the decades and are listed as threatened in Florida and under the federal Endangered Species Act.

Please report any indigo snake sightings with photos, if possible, to indigo@sccf.org.

LEARN MORE

How to Tell the Age and Species of Chicks on Beach

Southwest Florida is currently home to snowy plover and least tern chicks of varying ages. If you’ve ever wondered how to tell the age and species of those chicks as they leave the nest, fledge, and grow into juveniles, our shorebird team has you covered!

READ GUIDE TO CHICK AGING

Development Changes Loom on Captiva

SCCF continues to play a leadership role in unifying the community's voice in opposition to proposed land use changes on Captiva. In keeping with that role, SCCF leaders recently attended a Lee County Board of County Commissioners meeting to give comments on proposed amendments that would negatively impact coastal resilience on Captiva. Public hearings were ultimately delayed until Sept. 5 and Sept. 6, and SCCF will be updating our members throughout the following months.

The next planned meeting to discuss the Land Development Code amendments will be held by the Captiva Community Panel at 9 a.m. on July 5. Click this link to attend the webinar.

West Coast Stakeholders Concerned about Lake O

Lake Okeechobee is full of water and blue green algae, creating a dismal outlook for a summer without damaging releases.

After Hurricane Ian and Tropical Storm Nicole limited releases during the dry season, SCCF and the west coast stakeholders have growing concerns.

Cloudy Days Lead to Fish Kills in Sanibel Lakes

The storm surge from Hurricane Ian drastically changed the characteristics of most freshwater lakes and ponds on Sanibel. As a result, there is an increased potential for fish kills in Sanibel lakes this summer, especially following cloudy days.

LEARN WHY

Sanibel Sea School Summer Camp Going Strong

Now in its third week, SCCF’s Sanibel Sea School is delighting campers from ages 4 to 17 through its immersive summer camp programming. Last week, our youngest campers enjoyed an epic adventure to the sandbar in search of sand dollars, then wrapped up the week with some gleeful surfing! Summer camp continues through Aug. 25, with spaces still open in its final weeks.

DeSantis Signs Budget; Two Vetoes Still Possible

Gov. DeSantis recently signed the state budget, which includes both wins and losses for the environment.

Among the positives are over hundreds of millions toward Everglades restoration and the Florida Wildlife Corridor, and among the negatives are new limits to local fertilizer bans, which protect water quality.

WINS AND LOSSES

Our Native Landscapes & Garden Center is open Tuesday - Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. On-island deliveries are available for orders of $100 or more.

Meet the Natives:

Black Torch

Black torch (Erithalis fruticose) is an evergreen shrub, and its lightly fragrant white flowers bloom throughout the year. The fruits are plentiful and start out greenish-white, maturing to pink to dark purple or black when ripened. Birds love the berries, and the Miami blue butterfly (Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri) uses the flowers for nectar.

The black torch grows well in coastal communities with high-pH soils. It can tolerate saltwater inundation and did well with Ian’s storm surge. It does best in moist soils but can take short periods of dry weather. The black torch is listed as a threatened species in Florida because many of the coastal hammocks in which it grows have been lost to development.

Donate before June 30 to be an SCCF Member!

Only two days left until the end of our fiscal year! If you give a tax-deductible gift of $100 or more before then, you will be recognized as an SCCF member in our forthcoming annual report, as well as receive other benefits.

Learn more about SCCF membership

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