First Sea Turtle Nests of the Season Marked on Boca Raton Beaches, 5 Strandings Reported in ICW

A sea turtle nest marked near Sweetwater Lane on the oceanfront in Boca Raton, FL, April 1, 2026. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

A telltale sign of spring in South Florida – wooden stakes circled by orange tape in the sand on the beach – emerged this week in Boca Raton, with some of the first sea turtle nests being marked on the city’s oceanfront.

One of the first was marked about midway between Red Reef Park and Spanish River Park, near Sweetwater Lane. The season technically begins in March, but nests began to appear in larger numbers this week. Perhaps signaling a positive start to the 2026 season, a record-breaking leatherback nest was spotted on Feb. 12 in northern Palm Beach County. In the early part of the season, most of the nests spotted by a small army of “Turtle Patrol” volunteers consist of leatherback turtles, while loggerheads begin laying eggs in April and May. Green sea turtles appear most prominently in May and June, representing the height of the season. The busiest portion of nesting season spans June and July.

The staff at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center provided its own update this week on sea turtles amidst sad news from the area of the Spanish River Bridge, reminding boaters and anglers that they can be found in the area of the intracoastal waterway as well.

“Last week, our sea turtle conservation team responded to 5 sea turtle strandings in five days,” the center said in a statement. “All were juvenile green turtles that were hit by boats in the Intracoastal Waterway near the Spanish River Bridge. Unfortunately, none of them survived.”

A deceased sea turtle found stranded near the Spanish River Bridge, Boca Raton, FL, March 2026. (Photo: Gumbo Limbo Nature Center)

A deceased sea turtle found stranded near the Spanish River Bridge, Boca Raton, FL, March 2026. (Photo: Gumbo Limbo Nature Center)

Green sea turtles are common in intracoastal and nearshore environments because they feed on seagrass beds found in these habitats, the center said. These also tend to be areas with high boat traffic. The center urged boaters to observe no wake zones diligently, and keep watch for sea turtles that may be ahead while at the helm.

“Sea turtles often rest or feed just below the water and may not be visible until it’s too late,” the statement said. “Slowing down gives you and them a better chance.”

Meanwhile, back on the oceanfront, the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recently published reminders detailing best practices for sharing the beach with nesting sea turtles, including giving them space. The FWC instructs beachgoers to keep at least 50 feet or more away from nesting sea turtles to prevent causing them to stop before they finish the nesting process and return to the sea. It is illegal to harm or disturb nesting sea turtles, their nests or eggs, or to handle hatchlings.

A sea turtle nest marked near Sweetwater Lane on the oceanfront in Boca Raton, FL, April 1, 2026. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

Sunbathers are also urged to take any beach gear such as toys, sunshades and chairs home at the end of the day to remove obstacles and prevent sea turtles from getting entangled or trapped. Fill in any holes you or your family dig in the sand before heading home to keep turtles from getting stuck, and make sure to recycle monofilament fishing line, the agency said.

“Female sea turtles expend large amounts of energy crawling out of the surf and far enough up the beach to dig and lay nests in spots that are less vulnerable to the tides,” the FWC said. “Obstacles on the beach can entrap and prevent them from nesting as they crawl across the sand to lay their eggs. Trash, holes in the sand and other obstacles can also prevent sea turtle hatchlings from reaching the water once they emerge from their nest. Food scraps attract predators, such as raccoons and crows, that prey on sea turtle hatchlings. Litter on beaches can entangle sea turtles, birds and other wildlife.”

The FWC has published a quick-reference brochure with “sharing the beach” tips.