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Photo by Cheri Hollis
July 30, 2025
| | First Green Hatchlings Emerge, with Over 8.7K Loggerhead Hatchlings | | |
SCCF has documented 868 loggerhead (Caretta caretta) nests and 17 green turtle (Chelonia mydas) nests on Sanibel and Captiva this season, surpassing last year’s totals of 839 loggerhead nests and 3 green turtle nests!
The first green nest of the year has also hatched, with 49 emerged hatchlings! A total of 8,728 loggerhead hatchlings have emerged on the islands since June 26. The photo above is of a green hatchling.
To report issues with sea turtles or nests on Sanibel or Captiva, please call the SCCF Sea Turtle Hotline at 978-728-3663.
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Meet Belle, Our Fifth Satellite-Tagged Loggerhead
The sea turtle team recently deployed the fifth and final loggerhead satellite tag for the 2025 nesting season on a turtle named “Belle.” You can view Belle’s movements, as well as our other tagged loggerheads, on our Sea Turtle Tracking Portal, generously created by Hammerhead Technology. Thank you to all of the donors who supported the cost of this year’s satellite tags, which will offer valuable insight into the behavior of loggerheads that nest on our beaches.
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Puschel Preserve in National Spotlight for Solar Shelter
Our Puschel Preserve has received national attention by becoming the first nature preserve in the U.S. to install a Haven solar shelter. The shelter proved its resilience by making it through Hurricanes Milton and Helene without any damage.
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First Chicken Turtle Sighted Since Helene & Milton
Florida chicken turtles (Deirochelys reticularia chrysea) were found dead or missing on Sanibel after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, likely due to saltwater inundation of their freshwater habitats. But new hope emerges for this rare species now that SCCF biologists have sighted the first chicken turtle on the island since last year's hurricanes.
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Swallow-Tailed Kite Nesting Season & Tagging Update
There were two swallow-tailed kite nesting attempts on the islands this season, with only one of those nests eventually fledging a chick. The adult male from the successful nest was satellite tagged as part of a larger swallow-tailed kite monitoring and research project led by the Avian Research & Conservation Institute, thanks to a collaboration between the Sanibel-Captiva Audubon Society, with assistance from SCCF staff.
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FWC Finds No Viable Eggs in Crocodile Nest
Last week, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) excavated the crocodile nest on Sanibel to evaluate its condition, finding a clutch of 25 eggs that weren’t viable. In late April, we shared photos of the courting behavior of two crocodiles that raised hopes for a successful hatching.
| | SANIBEL SEA SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS | | |
Teen Campers Spend a Week in the Field with SCCF Scientists
Last week, Sanibel Sea School’s A Week in the Field teen camp got an inside look at what it’s like to be a scientist at SCCF! Campers learned about sea turtle monitoring & research, frog call surveys, water quality, and policy & advocacy.
This transformative camp is designed to kindle passion for environmental research among high school students. Free of cost, the camp aims to break down financial barriers, making environmental science accessible to all eager minds.
A special thanks to Doc Ford’s for raising over $7K this year to help make this program possible!
WATCH REEL
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'Homeschool at Sea' Registration Opens on Friday!
Sanibel Sea School’s Homeschool at Sea program offers an experiential, hands-on approach to marine science. Similar to regular day courses, homeschool sessions include a mix of classroom activities, field excursions, experiments, and art projects.
This year, we are offering six weeks of opportunities for homeschooled students. Registration opens Aug. 1!
VIEW OPPORTUNITIES
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SCCF to Track Water Quality Trends Following Removal of Chiquita Lock
Cape Coral leaders celebrated the removal of the Chiquita Lock on July 25, despite ongoing concerns about its potential impact on water quality. SCCF will continue to monitor local water quality trends to track any degradation of the estuary due to the lock’s removal.
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Podcast Features Hurricane Forecasting Technology
FOX-4 Meteorologist Andrew Shipley joins SCCF Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis to talk about the planned decommissioning of the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program and its potential impact on this season’s hurricane forecasting.
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5 Reasons to Plant Native
Why plant native? Our Native Landscapes & Garden Center staff offer five great reasons — from creating wildlife habitat, to protecting water quality, to improving landscape resilience.
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WATCH REEL
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Periwinkle Park: A Leader in Planting Native
For years, SCCF has partnered with the family-owned Periwinkle Park through our Native Landscapes & Garden Center. Under the leadership of David Muench, the park is stepping up that partnership by encouraging residents to plant native.
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| | UPCOMING EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES | | | | |
Going to Bat for Bats: Mighty Mussels Game to Support SCCF
Join us next Saturday evening, Aug. 9 for “Going to Bat for Bats” with the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels! $5 of your ticket purchase will go directly toward SCCF’s bat monitoring and conservation efforts, including helping us purchase acoustic monitoring equipment to determine bat species presence and range on Sanibel, Captiva, and surrounding islands.
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International Coastal Cleanup: Group Signups Open Now!
Join SCCF’s Coastal Watch in participating in the Ocean Conservancy’s Annual International Coastal Cleanup on Saturday, Sept. 20l. Volunteers will collect trash from Sanibel and Captiva beaches as part of this global effort to contribute to cleaner, healthier waters. Groups larger than five can sign up through tomorrow, July 31.
Individual registration will begin Aug. 1.
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Save the Dates to Adopt a Mangrove this Year!
We invite you to join our Adopt-A-Mangrove Program, which encourages community members to “adopt” mangroves and nurture them in their homes. Read more about this program in a recent NYT article.
Save the following dates for our upcoming "adoption" days. More details will be coming soon. Sept. 26, Oct. 18, Nov. 7, and Dec.12.
LEARN MORE
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Volunteers Needed to Protect Nesting Least Terns
We still need volunteers to help us protect nesting least terns on the Sanibel Causeway through August! Volunteer shorebird stewards are stationed in 2.5-hour shifts with an SCCF staff member, helping to minimize disturbances to the colonies and posted nest areas.
SIGN UP NOW
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Jillian from New Jersey
Thank you to Jillian, age 15 (left), from New Jersey for her generous donation to SCCF! For three years running, Jillian has sold handmade shell crafts at her local marching band craft fair to raise money for SCCF. The first donation was to support our wildlife response and rebuilding after Hurricane Ian, and it’s since turned into a tradition for Jillian and her parents, Sue (right) and Dave Hubbard. Thank you to the entire family!
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Now Hiring: Physical Plant Coordinator & Landscape Technician
We're seeking to fill two open positions — a Physical Plant Coordinator and an Equipment & Landscape Technician.
LEARN MORE & APPLY
| | Keep up with ongoing SCCF news by following us on social media or by visiting our Latest News webpage at any time. | | |
SCCF is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) founded
in 1967 on Sanibel Island, Florida
EIN 59-1205087
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