Connecting You to SCCF: Celebrating World Sea Turtle Day

June 16, 2023

Happy World Sea Turtle Day!

June 16 is World Sea Turtle Day! We’re highlighting a Loggerhead named Nubbins, who SCCF had the joy of encountering in May as she laid her eggs on Sanibel Island.

Named for her missing rear flipper, Nubbins was part of an FSU research project that included placing an underwater camera on her. See the video footage above!

Sea turtles have laid over 630 nests on Sanibel and Captiva so far this season on Sanibel and Captiva, including 15 green sea turtle nests!

Community Unites Against Land Use Changes on Captiva

Over the past week, there has been a flurry of activity across Sanibel and Captiva as the islands organized a response to the county’s planned land use changes on Captiva. An outpouring of support has come from all corners of the islands. Letters of opposition have been submitted from local leadership, business groups, conservation organizations, homeowners’ associations, and private citizens.

CREDIT: J.N. "Ding" Darling Wildlife Refuge

Sanibel's Namesake Rice Rat Did Survive Ian

SCCF Wildlife & Habitat Manager Chris Lechowicz was optimistic that Sanibel’s namesake rice rat had survived the hurricane, but only recently received verification. The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge has confirmed that their floating camera traps captured a photo of a young rice rat in mid-January.

“This is very important news because the rat’s size showed it was young enough to have been born after the hurricane,” he said.

Great First Week of Sanibel Sea School Summer Camp

Sanibel Sea School summer camps kicked off this week, and there’s been no shortage of laughs or learning! Each week over the summer, our marine science educators and counselors will be leading campers through ocean-based adventures that teach them biology, water skills, and stewardship of the environment.

SCCF Protects Least Tern Nests on Causeway

For the first time in three decades, least terns (Sternula antillarum) nested on the Sanibel Causeway this season. While the state-threatened birds haven’t recently been spotted, the fact they made an appearance shows that they still come to this region and seek suitable nesting habitat.

Hurricane-stricken Intern Housing Demolished

Earlier this month, SCCF said a final farewell to its intern housing that was destroyed during Hurricane Ian last fall. The housing provided a place for SCCF interns and staff for 34 years. SCCF will be collaborating with architect firm CO-G on a new structure that will be built around resilience and community.

New SCCF Website Launches

We’ve launched a new website!

Enjoy our modernized platform designed around usability.

SCCF Trustees Honored for Exceptional Service

Sandy Gross, Ran Niehoff (both pictured), Tom Libonate, and Don Rice were recognized for their extraordinary contributions as retiring board members at SCCF’s June 14 Board of Trustees meeting.

“Trustee terms usually end after four years at the Annual Membership Meeting in December. Given the significant challenges faced in the post-Ian recovery period, the Trustees set to step down in December agreed to stay on through the June 30 end of the fiscal year, maximizing the counsel and leadership available to this organization,” said Board President Anne Nobles. “We are eternally grateful for their selfless service.”

Congress Jewelers Mangrove Pendants Raise $3K for SCCF

After just six weeks of sales, Congress Jewelers has raised $3,000 for SCCF’s Coastal Watch through its custom mangrove pendant that helps benefit the program. The design will continue to be sold in sterling silver, yellow gold, and yellow gold with diamonds at Congress Jewelers at the Bell Tower in Fort Myers. You can also order by contacting 239-472-4177 or melissa@scongress.com.

Donate before June 30 to be an SCCF Member!

We’re rapidly approaching the end of our fiscal year! If you give a tax-deductible gift of $100 or more before then, you will be recognized as an SCCF member in our forthcoming annual report, as well as receive other benefits.

Learn more about SCCF membership

DONATE NOW

June 21: CEO James Evans at SanCap Chamber Business Luncheon

SCCF CEO James Evans will be a speaker at the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce business luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on June 21. Evans will give an update on water quality and environmental policy with Capt. Daniel Andrews of Captains for Clean Water.

United Way Helps Clean SCCF Preserve on McGregor

This week, over 75 volunteers from United Way helped SCCF’s Coastal Watch remove large, scattered hurricane debris from a small SCCF preserve in Fort Myers, located along busy McGregor Boulevard.

Special thanks to United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades, the City of Sanibel, and Bimini Bait Shack for making this event possible.

SEEKING WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS

Thanks to Lynda Ryberg for reporting this double sighting of an American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) munching on a blue crab (Callinectes sapidus).

Please report your post-Ian wildlife sightings. SCCF is grateful for citizen science as we build an inventory of species that survived the hurricane.

DONATE TO SCCF

SCCF is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) founded

in 1967 on Sanibel Island, Florida

EIN 59-1205087

GET SCCF IN YOUR INBOX