A leatherback sea turtle was spotted nesting in Volusia County on Sunday, the county confirmed in an announcement the following day. The turtle was seen on the sand at New Smyrna Beach laying her eggs, to the awe and wonder of those present to witness it.
Volunteer Jackie Frymire was the first to discover the turtle as she was taking an early morning walk on the beach. She witnessed the turtle, who does not have a known name or identity, covering her eggs back up with sand and subsequently returning to the ocean. Measurements were not taken, but Frymire checked and found no tracking tags on the turtle’s body.
The nest was marked with the traditional survey stakes and bright-colored ribbons to make beachgoers aware of the nest and help them stay away. Turtle nests are protected under both the Federal Endangered Species Act and the state Marine Turtle Protection Act, and those who disturb a nest can be subject to $25,000 to $50,000 in fines and/or a year in prison. Those who witness such an act are asked to call the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission at (888) 404-3922 or email Tip@MyFWC.com.
The arrival of this turtle in New Smyrna Beach was as fascinating as it was unexpected. Turtle nesting season in Florida officially begins on May 1st and runs through October 31st, and so this turtle was almost two months early. It marked the earliest recorded turtle nest in the county. Volusia County says they receive an average of 580 nests per year, with a staggering 902 nests recorded in 2024.
The Majestic Leatherback Sea Turtle
A hatchling leatherback sea turtle. ⓒ NOAA Fisheries
The leatherback sea turtle is the largest turtle species on the planet, either land-based or aquatic, and is the eighth-largest reptile species overall. They are particularly unique among reptiles for being warm-blooded, meaning they can regulate their own body temperature internally.
The turtles’ main diet consists of jellyfish. They are considered a key part of the ecosystem by keeping jellyfish populations under control. Little is known with certainty of their lifespan, with estimates ranging from 30 years to over a century. The average nest laid by mother turtles consists of about 110 eggs according to the World Wildlife Fund.
Young hatchling turtles are especially vulnerable to predators, with seagulls, crabs, and inshore fish inevitably thinning out the clutch of eggs once the babies emerge. Once they reach their full size of six-feet-plus and over a thousand pounds, few predators exist which can take a leatherback sea turtle down.
The main drivers of leatherback sea turtle mortality are human-caused. Artificial lights at night are known to be mistaken for moonlight by hatchlings, leading them to crawl for the roadways instead of the ocean. Pollution like plastic bags in the ocean can resemble jellyfish, and can be fatal when ingested. The global market for leatherback turtle skin and meat is low compared to other species. The turtles are considered to be vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
