World Turtle Day is May 23rd

Help us celebrate and protect these incredible creatures

Turtles and tortoises are special creatures: gentle, slow and steady. They’re highly adaptable, and have an innate ability to know where to migrate to and where to lay eggs. They’re resilient — dodging wildlife predators and dangers of our modern world for the entirety of their existence. Whether they live on land or in the sea, turtles are remarkable reptiles that need protection, and we here at Florida Water Tours know there is so much we can do to help. 

“We love our local turtles,” shares Jessica Jadick, founder of Florida Water Tours and Executive Director of Florida Water Warriors. “It’s devastating to see so much destruction happening to them and their habitats.” Over half of the world’s turtle species are endangered or threatened with extinction, from practices like illegal harvesting of eggs, pollution, development, climate change and the list goes on and on. World Turtle Day is celebrated every year on May 23rd, and was established to increase respect and knowledge about one of the world’s oldest creatures, and, to hopefully save the species from disappearing — something biologists and experts warn could happen within the next 50 years. “With education, we can keep these majestic creatures in our waters and on our land — and inspire a new generation of wildlife protectors,” shares Jadick. 

In St. Augustine, and throughout Northeast Florida, we’re lucky to have a variety of turtles and tortoises call our coast home. With over 350 species worldwide, Florida is among the top states in turtle species, with over 30 native turtle species. Turtles are most often found in freshwater or saltwater, but also live in the forest, desert and beach. Florida is home to five different sea turtle species (see below!), that swim in our waters and nest on our beaches. And what is the difference between turtles and tortoises? It’s somewhat simple: Tortoises are turtles, but not all turtles are tortoises! Tortoises exclusively live on land. They’re mainly vegetarians, whereas other turtles are omnivorous, eating worms, insects, jellyfish and shellfish. Their life spans are incredible, with some species living more than 100 years! 

Here are some of our favorite local turtle species:

Loggerhead Turtles are the most common sea turtle in the Southeastern U.S., and our coast is a particularly active breeding area. They have a log-shaped head and powerful jaws, which are helpful when snacking on crabs and mollusks. They prefer calmer, shallow waters like estuaries or coral reefs, and are currently listed as a threatened species.  

Green Turtles are found throughout the world and are named for their green body fat, which comes from their diet of seagrasses and algae. They too prefer calmer waters, near docks and lagoons. They have smaller, more rounded heads, and their lower jaws are serrated. They are listed as endangered, after centuries of being hunted.  

Leatherback Turtles are found in the open ocean, and are the biggest of all marine reptiles! Some can grow up to 6 feet and weigh over 2,000 pounds. They love eating jellyfish, and consume about 70-80 percent of their body weight in them every day. They’re the only sea turtle without a hard shell, and have thick rubbery skin. They too are listed as endangered. 

Kemp’s Ridley Turtles are the smallest and most rare sea turtle in the world, and the most endangered. They have a broad, oval shaped shell, and are usually olive gray in color. They love eating crabs and mollusks, and can be seen in shallow waters, including bays, but also in deeper parts of the ocean. 

Hawksbill Turtles are famous for their tortoise shells, and were almost hunted to extinction. They eat vegetation and sponges, and have a distinct hawk-like beak for finding food in crevices. They can be found in coral reefs and shallow coastal areas.

Gopher Tortoises live in beach dunes and sandy soil. They are a special kind of species in that their homes, or burrows, are utilized by over 300 other species! Many of whom aren’t able to build their own shelters. They have stumpy, elephant-like hind feet and flattened, shovel-like forelimbs. They too are a threatened species.

Turtles play a vital role in various ecosystems, such as maintaining water quality and balancing food webs. If they became extinct, erosion would increase and the stability of beaches and dunes would be impacted — entire ecosystems would collapse. Here’s how you can help! All turtles lay their eggs on land, even sea turtles, who make their way to our warm, sandy beaches to lay around 100 eggs every May through October. After the eggs incubate, they hatch and follow the light of the moon to find the safety of the ocean. Be sure to leave no trace! Knock down sand castles and fill in holes. Do not approach or touch nesting sites or hatchlings, and do not use lights on or near the ocean after sunset. Properly dispose of trash and pick it up when you see it. And if you see a turtle trying to cross the road, give it a hand!