On Earth Day, Collier has its first sea turtle nest of the year

Just in time for Earth Day, Collier County has its first sea turtle nest of the season.

The loggerhead sea turtle nest was found Monday morning toward the southern end of Naples beach, said Maura Kraus, principal environmental specialist for Collier County. 

"We're early," she said, adding that the find came about a week sooner than usual.

Kraus said Monday's discovery was the first time in 23 years that monitors have found a sea turtle nest laid this early on Naples beaches. Sea turtle nesting season officially begins May 1.

Sea turtles usually begin coming ashore to lay eggs when the Gulf of Mexico water temperature reaches 81 degrees, Kraus said. She said the Gulf still is relatively cool at 78 degrees. 

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The county's Sea Turtle Protection Program monitors nests and helps rescue stranded sea turtles. The program also assists in removing dead sea turtles. Monitoring started in 1989 on Marco Island, Kraus said.

Whether the early find bodes well for the rest of the season is unknown, Kraus said. She said she is just hoping for a "really good" season. 

Sea turtles will be nesting until August, Kraus said. Hatching will start at the end of June and is usually over by late October, she said.

According to the county's 2018 annual report, Collier had 966 nests last year, up from 927 in 2017. In 2016, monitors recorded 1,144.

Connect with the reporter at patrick.riley@naplesnews.com or on Twitter @PatJRiley.

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