Are There Sea Turtles on Marco Island?

Marco Island is an incredible vacation destination when traveling with your sweetheart or your whole family. The Island is full of phenomenal views, delicious food, and incredible attractions that your whole group will love.

Marco Island is especially wonderful during sea turtle season when you can watch in awe as turtles swim ashore to lay their eggs and the baby turtles eventually hatch and make their way back to sea.

We have all the info you’ll need to learn more about the sea turtles on Marco Island and how you could possibly spot one from our Marco Island beachfront rentals.

Sea Turtle Nesting Season

Marco Island turtle nesting season runs from May through October. During this important season, female loggerhead turtles will make their way from the Gulf of Mexico onto the shoreline, having traveled hundreds of miles to their preferred nesting location. After about 60 days, the baby turtles will emerge from their shells to find their forever home in the water. This migration is a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

On average, Marco Island sees about 80 nests every year, so you are likely to spot this magnificent event if you visit during the summer or early fall! Each nest can hold over 100 eggs, some nearer to 150, but estimates say that only 1 in every 1,000 hatchlings makes it to reproductive maturity.

Loggerhead Sea Turtles

Loggerhead sea turtles are the main species that come to nest on Marco Island. So named for their large heads, loggerhead sea turtles have incredibly strong jaws and are mainly carnivorous, making up the bulk of their diet from crabs, mussels, and other shellfish.

As the loggerhead sea turtle grows, it can reach an astonishing 2.5-3.5 feet in length and weigh in at a whopping 155-375 pounds! However, it takes a while for turtles to reach these massive sizes, so humans have to be particularly careful during the nesting season to ensure the safety of the small baby turtles. They can be easy to miss in the sand, so be sure to watch your step!

Sea Turtle Conservation and How You Can Help

Sea turtles are considered a threatened species in the United States, meaning they are in danger of becoming extinct. They are considered vulnerable internationally, meaning they are more likely to become extinct in the wild than other species. Much of the risk to these creatures is the loss of their home and nesting habitats, so we must do everything in our power to ensure the safety of the turtles for years to come.

One of the most important things you can do is turn off your porch lights at night if you are staying on the Marco Island beach. The hatchlings use moonlight to make their way back to the water, and artificial lights can lead them astray. Also be sure to keep all beach equipment inside your property when not in use, and pick up any garbage you may find.

Seeing the Marco Island turtles is one of the most unforgettable Island experiences you can have.

These magnificent animals add a special element to Marco Island, but there is plenty to see and do in the area all year long. We cannot wait to share this Island with you, and our Marco Island vacation rentals are the ideal places to relax after a long day of sightseeing and fun.

We have options with pools to keep you close to the water, as well as pet-friendly rentals so you don’t have to leave your furry friend behind.