Bernie Mont
•7/31/2026
Loggerhead sea turtles have laid 911 nests on Sanibel Island this year, setting a record for the highest count in the island's history, according to the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF). The previous record of 878 was set in 2023. “That is absolutely crazy news that there's that many sea turtle nests this year on Sanibel,” said Stacy Garrett, a visitor to the island. Sea turtles have long been a source of fascination for Garrett, who recalled her family’s visits to Sanibel during her childhood. “One of the reasons my family came here when I was younger is the seashells and the turtle nests, and we were hoping always to see a little live hatch go towards the ocean,” Garrett said. The number of nests between Sanibel and Captiva combined is 1,162, just shy of the 1,201 record set in 2023. Despite the record-breaking numbers, SCCF noted that high nest counts do not necessarily indicate a full recovery of the turtle population. Garrett expressed hope for the success of this year’s hatchlings. “Hopefully, a lot of them will make it,” she said. Her husband, Dave Garrett, shared her enthusiasm, describing the inspiring sight of hatchlings making their way to the ocean. “Those little guys coming out of there 'where's the water? where's the water?' It's such an inspiration to see them just begin life and just scurry toward those waves,” he said. SCCF emphasized the importance of continued conservation efforts to ensure that record-breaking seasons like this year’s become a regular occurrence. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
