First sea turtle nest of 2026 season spotted on Fort Myers Beach

FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. —

The first documented sea turtle nest on Fort Myers Beach of the 2026 nesting season was found Wednesday.

The Town of Fort Myers Beach posted on Facebook that there was a special surprise for Earth Day because the turtles have arrived.

In nesting season, artificial light can disorient nesting turtles and hatchlings, which can prevent them from reaching the Gulf safely.

The town said these are the following actions residents can take to help the turtles during nesting season:

• Turn off or shield beachfront lights at night
• Close curtains and blinds after sunset
• Use turtle-friendly (amber or red) lighting
• Remove obstacles from the beach

The town told Gulf Coast News the season came early, there were very big tracks and it's most likely a leatherback sea turtle.

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