TURTLEY YOURS FOUNDATION™

Tag: Everything matters

  • The Secret Beneath the Sand: How Sea Turtles Build Their Egg Chambers

    The Secret Beneath the Sand: How Sea Turtles Build Their Egg Chambers

    An extraordinary feat of engineering, completed with nothing but two flippers and a whole lot of determination.

    A peek inside a sea turtle’s egg chamber. Photo Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Marylou Staman

    Imagine digging a hole two feet deep in the sand. Now imagine doing it without hands, a shovel, or even the ability to see what you’re digging!

    Sounds impossible, doesn’t it? Well, for a nesting sea turtle, it’s all in a night’s work!

    Every nesting season, female sea turtles emerge from the ocean and make their way onto sandy beaches. They search for the right place to lay their precious cargo: dozens, sometimes more than a hundred eggs.

    But before a single egg is laid, that sea turtle has some serious construction work to do!

    And what happens under the sand is nothing short of amazing.

    Two Flippers. One Incredible Engineering Project.

    Once a female sea turtle finds a good nesting spot, she begins preparing the area. Using her powerful front flippers, she clears away sand and creates a body pit. A body pit is a shallow, bowl-shaped space she digs in the sand. She uses this space to settle into a comfortable position before she begins digging her egg chamber. A female sea turtle could make multiple body pits until she finds an area she feels is “just right” for her nest.

    Detailed close-up view of a sea turtle body pit. Photo Credit: Vecteezy

    Then the real work begins. With amazing care, she reaches behind her body with her two rear flippers and begins digging.

    One flipper scoops up a little sand, curls around it, and carefully drops it beside the opening. Then the other flipper takes a turn.

    Back and forth. Scoop by scoop.

    It’s almost like watching someone use two tiny shovels!

    But here’s the fascinating part: she isn’t simply digging a hole. She’s creating a carefully shaped underground chamber. The opening is narrow, but when she digs deeper, the chamber gets wider toward the bottom, making a shape similar to a bell or a vase.

    Depending on the species and the sea turtle, an egg chamber could reach two feet below the surface of the sand.

    And she does all of this without ever seeing the finished chamber!

    • Body pit: The shallow, bowl-shaped space a nesting female sea turtle makes in the sand before digging her egg chamber. She uses mostly her front flippers, but sometimes her back flippers as well, to create this.
    • Egg chamber: The deeper hole a female sea turtle carefully digs with her back flippers to hold her eggs.
    • Nest: The name for the place where a female sea turtle lays her eggs and covers them with sand to keep them safe until they hatch.
    A green sea turtle nesting. This video was recorded using a zoom lens by a citizen walking on the beach who watched from a safe and respectful distance while federally permitted university researchers conducted a morning nesting survey. Sea turtles usually nest at night, but sometimes they are still on the beach in the early morning.
    Please remember: Sea turtles are protected by law. It is illegal to disturb or harass a nesting sea turtle. Only specially trained people with the proper permits may handle sea turtles or their nests as part of authorized conservation and research work. Video Credit: Karri Lewis

    What If She Only Has One Rear Flipper?

    Here’s something that makes sea turtles even more extraordinary.

    Although sea turtles normally take turns with their rear flippers when making an egg chamber, some dig using ONLY one rear flipper! A sea turtle might lose a flipper because of an injury, a predator attack, or maybe because she was caught in fishing gear.

    Yet some of these sea turtles are amazing and can still dig nests and lay eggs with only one rear flipper. Imagine the extra effort needed to dig a carefully shaped egg chamber when you have only half your usual digging equipment!

    Not every sea turtle with a missing flipper can successfully dig a nest on her own, though. Sometimes, specially trained conservation volunteers or staff who have permission to work with sea turtles may be there to help. But the fact that some sea turtles can overcome such a big challenge reminds us just how strong and amazing these animals really are!

    Too Wet? Too Dry? This Sand Just Won’t Do!

    Have you ever tried building a sandcastle with completely dry sand? It crumbles, right? Add a little water, and suddenly you can build towers, tunnels, and walls! But add too much water, and your beautiful towers might tumble into a soggy mess!

    Sea turtles have the same problem when digging their egg chambers. The sand needs to be just right. If the sand is too dry and loose, it may keep falling back into the hole as the turtle digs. This makes it hard for her to make an egg chamber that will hold its shape.

    But what if the sand is too wet? Very wet sand can also cause problems. Sea turtle eggs need oxygen to develop, and too much water in the sand can make it harder for oxygen to reach them.

    Sometimes, a sea turtle will begin digging an egg chamber but stop before finishing. She may move to another spot and try again. Some sea turtles even try several locations before finally laying their eggs!

    Scientists have discovered that things like the amount of moisture in the sand, the size of the grains of sand, and how tightly the sand is packed can all affect nesting conditions.

    An abandoned egg chamber in Melbourne Beach, FL. Video Credit: Kris Marvin

    But how does she know?

    That’s an interesting question!

    Sea turtles don’t carry moisture meters or test the sand like scientists do!

    Instead, they use their flippers to dig and move the sand. If the sand keeps falling back into the hole or makes digging too difficult, the sea turtle might give up and try somewhere else. But here’s something amazing!

    Scientists still don’t know exactly how sea turtles decide whether the sand is just right!

    They know that things like how wet or dry the sand is can affect nesting. But how a sea turtle figures out whether she’s found a good spot is still a bit of a mystery! And that’s one of the wonderful things about nature. There is always something new to discover!

    A Nursery Hidden Beneath the Beach

    Once her egg chamber is ready, the female sea turtle gets into position and begins laying her eggs. Unlike bird eggs, which have hard shells, sea turtle eggs have soft, flexible shells.

    The eggs drop gently into the chamber, sometimes one at a time and sometimes several close together. Soon, there’s a whole pile of round, white eggs that look similar to ping-pong balls resting at the bottom!

    When she’s finished laying, the sea turtle carefully uses her back flippers to cover the eggs with sand.

    Then she scatters more sand around the area to help hide her nest from hungry predators.

    Finally, after all that hard work, she heads back to the ocean.

    But Wait! Who’s Going to Take Care of Her Babies?

    Believe it or not, that sea turtle won’t be coming back!

    Instead, the warm sand becomes a safe, cozy nursery where her babies will grow inside their eggs.

    For about two months, depending on the type of sea turtle and the conditions in the nest, the tiny turtles will grow and develop. And then, one day, something extraordinary begins happening beneath the sand! They hatch and will finally begin to emerge! (But that is another blog post…)

    Not Every Hole Becomes a Nest

    Sometimes people on the beach find evidence that a sea turtle crawled out of the water during the night, only to learn that she never laid any eggs. These unsuccessful nesting attempts are often called false crawls.

    Sometimes, a sea turtle decides a nesting spot just isn’t right. Maybe the sand is too wet or too dry. Maybe something is in her way. Maybe something nearby scares or disturbs her, or she hears or smells something she doesn’t like – or maybe someone turns on a porch light! (EEK!).

    She might turn around and leave before she even starts digging. Other times, she might dig a body pit or even start digging her egg chamber before giving up and leaving (sometimes coming back to try somewhere else down the beach).

    Each nesting attempt takes a lot of effort for an animal that must haul her heavy body across land using flippers designed primarily for swimming. The next time you go to the beach, try dragging yourself across the sand using ONLY your arms and see how hard it is (don’t cheat and use your knees or feet)!

    A false crawl on Melbourne Beach, FL Photo Credit: Kris Marvin

    A Little Wonder Beneath Your Feet

    The next time you walk along a beach during sea turtle nesting season, think about what might be happening under the sand. Hidden from view could be an extraordinary little nursery, carefully built by a sea turtle who traveled hundreds, maybe thousands of miles across the ocean, climbed onto shore, and used nothing but her flippers to make a safe place for her eggs.

    No blueprints.

    No measuring tape.

    No construction equipment.

    Just instinct, adaptation, and millions of years of evolution.

    That’s a pretty incredible achievement for an animal without hands! And one more reason to remember that even the simplest-looking stretch of beach can hold something extraordinary!

    Because Everything Matters.

    Conservation Begins With Wonder™.

    References

    A Reminder: 

    Sea turtles, their eggs, and their nests are protected by law. Never dig into a nest or disturb a nesting turtle. Egg chamber photographs and videos should be obtained through authorized conservation activities.

  • Small Actions, Cleaner Oceans

    Small Actions, Cleaner Oceans

    Because Everything Matters

    On September 19th, 2026, people around the world will head to beaches, rivers, lakes, parks, and waterways for International Coastal Cleanup Day—a global effort to remove trash from our environment and protect the ocean and the wildlife that depends on it.

    Some volunteers will collect hundreds of pounds of debris. Others may fill a single bag.

    Some might simply pick up a few pieces of trash they notice during a walk on the beach.

    Every one of those actions matters

    At Turtley Yours Foundation, we believe conservation doesn’t always begin with a huge undertaking. Sometimes it begins when you notice something that doesn’t belong.

    • A bottle cap in the sand.
    • A piece of fishing line near the water.
    • A plastic wrapper caught in the sea oats.

    And instead of walking past it, you pick it up.

    What Happens on Land Doesn’t Always Stay on Land

    Marine debris doesn’t have to be left directly on the beach to eventually reach the ocean.

    Trash dropped along streets, parking lots, parks, and neighborhoods can be carried by wind or stormwater into drains, canals, rivers, and eventually the sea. Once there, it can become a hazard for wildlife. Sea turtles, seabirds, fish, and other marine animals can become entangled in discarded fishing line, rope (we call this “ghost gear”), plastic bags, and other debris. Animals can also mistake pieces of plastic for food. In fact, a sea turtle may mistake a plastic bag for a jellyfish, a seabird may scoop up tiny pieces of plastic with its food, and a fish may swallow plastic floating in the water—all by accident. In fact, a large scientific study of more than 10,000 marine animals found plastic inside nearly half of the sea turtles, more than one-third of the seabirds, and about one in eight marine mammals examined.¹

    That means protecting the ocean can begin miles away from the shoreline.

    The Cleanup Is Only Part of the Story

    One of the most valuable parts of International Coastal Cleanup isn’t simply removing trash—it’s learning what we’re finding. When volunteers record the types of debris they collect, those individual observations become data. Together, they help scientists, conservation organizations, and communities better understand the problem of marine debris and work toward solutions.

    That’s citizen science in action. And for children, a cleanup can become something even bigger. A child picking up a bottle cap isn’t just cleaning a beach. They’re observing their environment. They’re asking questions. They’re beginning to understand how something as small as a piece of plastic can affect an entire ecosystem. And they’re discovering something we hope every child learns: Their actions have an impact.

    Take the Everything Matters Challenge

    This International Coastal Cleanup Day, Turtley Yours Foundation challenges you to do something simple:

    Pick up what you can. Notice what you find. Think about where it may have come from. Then look for one way you can help prevent it from getting there again.

    • Bring a reusable water bottle.

    • Skip an unnecessary piece of single-use plastic.

    • Secure your trash so it can’t blow away. 

    • Properly dispose of fishing line.

    • Join a community cleanup—or simply clean up the place where you already are.

    Local businesses help by encouraging customers to avoid plastic and skip straws when possible. This sign was found at Better Buzz Coffee in San Diego, CA.

    Remember: You don’t have to save the whole ocean tomorrow. You just have to care for your little piece of it. Because one piece of trash removed is one piece that can’t become marine debris. One person taking action can inspire another.And thousands of small actions can become something enormous.

    Conservation Begins With Wonder

    At Turtley Yours Foundation, our mission is to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards through storytelling, hands-on experiences, and accessible educational resources that help children and families fall in love with the natural world.

    We believe conservation begins with wonder.

    Wonder sparks curiosity.
    Curiosity leads to understanding.
    Understanding creates appreciation.
    And appreciation inspires protection.

    A beach cleanup may seem like one small act. But small acts are where change begins.

    Everything matters. Every action matters. And every one of us can help protect the places—and wildlife—we love.

    Keep Exploring. Keep Wondering. Keep Protecting. 

    International Coastal Cleanup is organized by Ocean Conservancy. Learn more, find a cleanup, or discover other ways to participate through  ⁠Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup.

    Turtley Yours Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards through conservation education, storytelling, and hands-on experiences.

    ¹ Roman, L., et al. (2025). A quantitative risk assessment framework for mortality due to macroplastic ingestion in seabirds, marine mammals, and sea turtles. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2415492122.  

    ⁠

    Read the peer-reviewed study

    Turtley Yours Foundation Members Cleaning Trash in Melbourne Beach, FL
  • The Secret Life of Beach Crabs:

    The Secret Life of Beach Crabs:

    Why These Little Claws Matter

    Meet the Ghost Crabs

    Ghost Crabs: The Tiny Beachkeepers Working After Dark

    Have you ever walked along the beach and wondered who made all those little round holes in the sand? You may have found the front door to a ghost crab’s house!

    Ghost crabs are some of the beach’s most fascinating residents. With pale, sandy bodies, eyes perched high on stalks, and legs built for speed, they can race across the sand and disappear so quickly that you might wonder if you really saw one at all. Maybe that’s why we call them ghosts! But these speedy little crabs aren’t just fun to watch. Ghost crabs are an important part of the beach ecosystem.

    A Tiny Crab With a Big Job

    What exactly does a ghost crab do for the beach? Quite a lot! Ghost crabs are both predators and scavengers. 

    As scavengers, they eat dead animals and other organic material that washes ashore, helping recycle nutrients through the beach ecosystem.

    As predators, they hunt other animals—including insects, coquina clams and mole crabs, sometimes called sand fleas.

    That makes ghost crabs an important part of the beach food web. They eat other organisms, and other animals eat them. Nature doesn’t really have “good guys” and “bad guys.” Every animal is simply trying to survive—and each has a role in its ecosystem.

    What’s for Dinner?

    If you’re a ghost crab, your dinner menu can get pretty interesting.Depending on what’s available, a ghost crab might eat:

    • Mole crabs
    • Coquina clams
    • Insects
    • Dead fish
    • Jellyfish and other animals washed ashore
    • Other bits of organic material

    They’ve even been known to drag food back toward their burrows! And there’s something else on the menu that sea turtle lovers might not be quite as excited about.

    Ghost crabs sometimes eat sea turtle eggs and hatchlings.

    It can be difficult to think of a tiny hatchling becoming another animal’s dinner, but this is a natural part of an ecosystem. Ghost crabs aren’t being “mean.” They’re behaving like ghost crabs. A beach is a community of animals connected to one another in all sorts of ways—and sometimes one animal’s meal is another animal we love. It’s nature’s way of feeding one species while keeping another one in check. If all the sea turtle eggs hatched, there would not be enough food to support the number of sea turtles in the ocean. That would also create problems for other animals in the food web. For example, too many green sea turtles could cause a shortage of seagrass, which could lead to a shortage of food for manatees.

    Home Sweet Hole

    That round hole you see in the sand isn’t just a hole. It’s a home. Ghost crabs dig burrows that give them a cooler, moister place to escape the hot sun and hide from predators. Their burrows can extend several feet beneath the beach.

    And here’s a surprising answer to a question people often ask: Does a ghost crab house have a back door?

    Sometimes! Ghost crab burrows are often J-shaped, but not every burrow is exactly alike. Some have more than one entrance or exit. So that little hole you’re looking at may lead to an underground tunnel—and another doorway somewhere nearby. Pretty clever for a crab!

    That’s also a good reason to never poke sticks, shovels, fingers, or other objects into a ghost crab burrow. Someone might be home!

    Why Do Ghost Crabs Come Out at Night?

    Life on an open beach can be HOT. (Think about how hot the sand can be on your feet sometimes.) Ghost crabs have gills, and those gills need to remain moist. Spending the hottest part of the day inside a cool, damp burrow helps the crab avoid drying out.

    When temperatures cool, the beach comes alive. Ghost crabs are especially active at night, which is when you may see them racing across the sand searching for food.

    But wait…

    I saw a ghost crab during the DAY!

    You certainly might! Ghost crabs are mostly nocturnal, not only nocturnal. They can also be active in the morning, around sunset and occasionally during the middle of the day. So, spotting one in daylight doesn’t necessarily mean anything is wrong. You may simply have caught your ghost crab out and about!

    Where Are All the Baby Ghost Crabs?

    Here’s one of the coolest things about ghost crabs: Their babies don’t grow up inside those burrows! After mating, a female ghost crab carries her developing eggs with her. When the time is right, she travels down to the surf and releases them into the water. Their earliest stages of life take place in the ocean. Eventually, the developing young crabs return to shore and begin life as the little beach-dwelling crabs we recognize. So, a ghost crab’s life connects land and sea! The adults may spend much of their lives scurrying across sand and hiding in burrows, but the next generation begins its journey in the waves.

    The Beach Beneath Your Feet

    Ghost crabs are a wonderful reminder that a beach isn’t simply a big pile of sand where people swim, sunbathe and build sandcastles. It’s a habitat. Above the sand, beneath it, and along the water’s edge, animals are hunting, hiding, feeding, nesting, resting, and trying to survive.

    Some of them are so small that we hardly notice they’re there. That’s why the little choices we make at the beach can matter. Pick up your trash. Fill in the holes you dig and flatten sandcastles before you leave. Give wildlife plenty of space. Never poke objects into animal burrows. And instead of chasing or catching a ghost crab, try watching quietly to see what it does. You might discover there’s a whole world happening right beneath your feet.

    Meet a Few More Crabby Neighbors

    Ghost crabs aren’t the only fascinating crustaceans living along our beaches, estuaries, and oceans. We’ll meet some of these crabs in future adventures, but here’s a sneak peek:

    Mole Crab (Sand Flea)
    These tiny crabs bury themselves backward into wet sand where waves rush onto the beach.
    Fun fact: They use feathery antennae to catch tiny bits of food from the water!

    Hermit Crab
    A hermit crab’s abdomen doesn’t have the same hard protection as much of its body, so it uses an empty snail shell for protection.
    Fun fact: As a hermit crab grows, it needs to find a larger shell. Talk about moving day!

    Fiddler Crab
    Male fiddler crabs are easy to recognize because one claw can be MUCH larger than the other.
    Fun fact: Males wave their oversized claw to communicate—including getting the attention of females!

    Blue Crab
    Blue crabs spend much more of their lives in the water than ghost crabs do.
    Fun fact: Their last pair of legs are flattened into paddle-like shapes that make them excellent swimmers.

    Decorator Crab
    These crabs have turned camouflage into an art form.
    Fun fact: Decorator crabs can attach materials such as algae and sponges to their bodies, helping them blend into their surroundings.


    Sally Lightfoot Crab
    These colorful crabs live around rocky tropical shorelines and are remarkably agile.
    Fun fact: They’re excellent climbers and can scramble quickly across rocks while avoiding crashing waves.

    And then there is one very famous animal with “crab” in its name that deserves a story all its own…the Horseshoe crab!

    Here’s your first clue: despite its name, a horseshoe crab isn’t actually a crab at all.

    We’ll save that story for another day. We’ll keep the mystery and wonder alive for the next blog because our friend the horseshoe crab deserves its own blog!

    Everything Matters

    The next time you spot a tiny ghost crab racing across the beach—or just discover a mysterious round hole in the sand—remember:

    There is much more happening on a beach than what we can see. Every crab, every shorebird, every sea turtle, every shell, every wave. They’re all connected.

    And the choices we make become part of that story, too. Because everything matters. So explore, ask questions, look closely. And whenever you can, leave the beach a little better than you found it.

  • The Most Important Sea Turtle You’ll Never Meet

    The Most Important Sea Turtle You’ll Never Meet

    Sea Turtle Hatchlings Begin their Journey

    Somewhere tonight, beneath a blanket of warm sand, a tiny sea turtle is waiting.

    It has never seen the ocean.

    It has never felt the warmth of the sun or the coolness of moonlight.

    It has never taken a breath of fresh air.

    For nearly two months, it has been growing inside an egg about the size of a ping-pong ball. Around it, dozens of other hatchlings are doing the same. Together, they have spent weeks developing from tiny embryos into fully formed hatchlings. Inside each egg, small flippers, tiny scales, lungs, and even a temporary egg tooth have taken shape, while more than 100 million years of evolution have equipped them with the instincts they’ll need for the journey ahead.

    When the time is right, the hatchlings begin to stir.

    Not one at a time—but together.

    As they wriggle and dig, the sand beneath them slowly collapses. Each tiny turtle helps move sand away from the others. Alone, a hatchling might never reach the surface. Together, they create what scientists often describe as a living elevator, slowly lifting the entire group upward through nearly two feet of sand.

    When they finally reach the top, they don’t always emerge immediately.

    Instead, they wait.

    For one to three days, the hatchlings remain just beneath the surface. During this quiet pause, something remarkable is still happening inside their tiny bodies. They absorb the last of the nutrient-rich yolk remaining in their yolk sacs—a built-in energy reserve that will fuel them through the most demanding days of their young lives.

    They’re also waiting for something else. The sand above them must cool.

    Emerging into the blazing heat of the day would expose them to dangerous temperatures and hungry daytime predators. So they wait patiently beneath the sand until the beach begins to cool. Then, usually under the cover of darkness—or sometimes just before dawn—they erupt from the sand in a remarkable burst of life.

    For a few magical minutes, the beach belongs to them.

    Their journey has only just begun.

    No parent is waiting.

    No one shows them the way.

    Guided by instinct, they search for the brightest, most open horizon—historically, the moonlight and starlight reflecting across the ocean. But today’s beaches often glow with porch lights, streetlights, parking lots, and hotels. Those artificial lights can confuse a hatchling’s ancient instincts, drawing it inland instead of toward the sea, where dehydration, exhaustion, vehicles, predators, and other hazards await.

    Even when they head in the right direction, danger is everywhere.

    Ghost crabs patrol the sand.

    Shorebirds watch from above.

    Fish wait just beyond the breaking waves.

    Every step—and every swim—is a race against incredible odds.

    Yet once they reach the water, they don’t stop.

    For the next day or two, hatchlings enter what’s known as the frenzy period, using powerful strokes to swim almost continuously, carrying themselves away from shore and beyond the shallow waters where predators are most abundant. It’s an exhausting sprint fueled by the remaining yolk they absorbed before leaving the nest—their first and only “packed lunch”.

    Then, almost as suddenly as they appeared, they seem to disappear.

    Scientists call this period the “lost years.” For roughly the next four to seven years, young sea turtles drift with ocean currents, often finding shelter among floating mats of sargassum seaweed. These floating nurseries provide food, protection, and a place to grow while they remain largely out of sight.

    Eventually, they leave the open ocean and settle into coastal foraging grounds. Here they spend many more years feeding, growing, and avoiding predators. Every year they survive brings them one step closer to adulthood.

    When they finally reach sexual maturity—often decades after hatching—they begin one of the most extraordinary migrations in the animal kingdom, traveling back toward the region where their lives began. Scientists are still uncovering exactly how they accomplish this remarkable feat, but Earth’s magnetic field appears to play an important role in helping them navigate across thousands of miles of open ocean.

    For females, the journey doesn’t end there.

    During a nesting season, a female may crawl ashore several times, often laying four to seven nests containing approximately 80 to 120 eggs each. Each nesting crawl demands an enormous amount of energy. She digs a body pit, carefully excavates an egg chamber with her rear flippers, lays her eggs, gently covers the nest, disguises it with sweeping movements of her flippers, and then slowly returns to the sea.

    She will repeat this remarkable process again and again throughout the nesting season.

    During that time, she eats very little, if at all, relying almost entirely on the energy reserves she built before migrating.

    When the season is over, she returns to her feeding grounds to replenish her body. Two to three years later, if conditions are right, she’ll make the incredible journey all over again.

    And somewhere beneath the sand…

    another generation begins.

    Every sea turtle you have ever admired—

    every massive loggerhead,

    every graceful green turtle,

    every hawksbill weaving through a coral reef,

    every leatherback crossing an ocean—

    began exactly this way.

    As a hatchling no bigger than the palm of your hand.

    Trying to survive its very first night.

    Not long ago, a young child asked me a question adults almost never ask.

    “Where do baby crabs sleep?”

    It wasn’t a question asked for homework.

    It wasn’t meant to impress anyone.

    It came from something much more powerful – Wonder. 

    And in case you’re wondering – it depends on the type of crab, but some tuck themselves into tiny burrows in the sand. Others hide beneath seaweed, shells, rocks, or seagrass where they’re protected from predators. Young ghost crabs dig small burrows above the high tide line. During the day, they often stay inside these cool, moist tunnels, emerging mostly at night to search for food.

    Children ask the questions many adults have forgotten to ask. Questions like:

    Do sea turtles cry? (No, but it sure looks like they do! Instead, they have specialized salt glands located behind their eyes. These remarkable glands remove excess salt from their bloodstream—salt they take in from living and feeding in the ocean. The salty fluid drains from the corners of their eyes, making it look as though they’re crying.

    It’s one of nature’s most fascinating illusions.)

    How does a baby sea turtle know where the ocean is? (Instinct tells them to look for the horizon, which should always be the brightest light, even if there is no moon.)

    Do ghost crabs only come out at night? (No, but the cooler nighttime temperatures help keep them from drying out, since they need moisture to breathe through their gills.

    Night also helps keep them safe. Many of the birds that hunt ghost crabs are asleep after dark, making it a little easier for the crabs to search for food.)

    Can sea turtles get lost? (Most of the time, no. Sea turtles are incredible navigators. Even as tiny hatchlings, they begin a journey that may take them thousands of miles across the ocean. Scientists believe they use Earth’s magnetic field like a natural map and compass, along with ocean currents and other environmental cues, to help them find their way. But artificial lights can disorient them and send them crawling away from the ocean instead of toward it. Storms, changing ocean currents, pollution, fishing gear, and habitat loss can also disrupt their journeys.)

    Questions like these may seem simple, but they’re the beginning of something extraordinary.

    Because every great scientist…

    Every conservationist…

    Every teacher…

    Every explorer…

    Every environmental advocate…

    Started as someone who simply wondered how the world worked.

    Curiosity is where learning begins. And learning is where conservation begins. The future of that tiny sea turtle doesn’t depend only on marine biologists, veterinarians, researchers, wildlife officers, or conservation organizations.

    It also depends on ordinary people making ordinary choices.

    • Turning off lights that can confuse hatchlings.
    • Keeping beaches clean, flat, and dark.
    • Leaving wildlife wild.
    • Reducing plastic pollution.
    • Protecting the places these remarkable animals call home.

    Those choices rarely begin in adulthood. They begin much earlier.

    They begin when a child discovers the joy of watching a ghost crab disappear into its burrow.

    When they gently leave a shell on the beach after learning another animal may one day call it home.

    When they ask one more question instead of walking away.

    Those small moments quietly shape the way children see the natural world.

    And eventually…

    How they choose to care for it.

    I’ve come to believe that conservation isn’t built on fear. It’s built on wonder (and connection).

    Connection begins with wonder. Wonder leads to curiosity. Curiosity inspires understanding. Understanding grows into appreciation. And appreciation becomes protection.

    That’s why I believe one of the most powerful conservation tools isn’t found in a laboratory…

    Or aboard a research vessel…

    Or in a government office.

    It’s found in a child’s imagination.

    Chances are, you’ll never meet that little sea turtle. You’ll never know whether it survives its first night. You’ll never know where the currents carry it. You’ll never know if, decades from now, it returns to the same stretch of coastline where its life began.

    But somewhere, another child is asking why turtles cry. Or where baby crabs sleep. Or how sea stars grow new arms.

    If we answer those questions with patience, honesty, and wonder, we aren’t simply teaching children about nature. We’re helping them form a lifelong connection with it—a love for our natural world and all the living things we share it with.

    And children protect what they love.

    So perhaps the most important sea turtle you’ll never meet won’t be saved by someone standing on a beach tonight. It will be saved years from now by a child who grew up asking questions.

    A child who became a scientist.

    A teacher.

    A volunteer.

    A conservation officer.

    A parent.

    Or simply someone who learned to care.

    Because every act of conservation begins long before a nesting season. Long before a beach cleanup. Long before a rescue.

    It begins the moment someone looks at the natural world and asks,

    “I wonder…”

    And somewhere tonight, beneath a blanket of warm sand, another tiny sea turtle is waiting.

    Its future may depend on someone who first fell in love with nature simply by asking…

    Why?

    Loggerhead hatching emerging from shell
  • What Is This Strange String on the Beach? Meet the Whelk Egg Case!

    What Is This Strange String on the Beach? Meet the Whelk Egg Case!

    Have you ever spotted what looks like a string of dried, leathery pods washed up on the beach? At first glance, it might look like seaweed or an unusual shell—but it’s actually one of nature’s most fascinating nurseries.

    It’s a whelk egg case, where baby whelks developed before hatching.

    Each strand is made up of many individual egg capsules. Inside every capsule, dozens of tiny whelk embryos begin developing. As they grow, only a small number usually survive to hatch. When the baby whelks are ready, they use their tiny rasp-like tongues, called “radulas“, to scrape an opening in the egg capsule and make their way into the ocean.

    Most whelk egg cases are attached to rocks, reefs, shells, or other hard surfaces beneath the water. Occasionally, waves or storms break loose an empty egg case, allowing us to discover this remarkable piece of ocean life along the beach.

    Look Closely

    If you find an empty whelk egg case during a beach walk, look for the tiny openings in each capsule where the baby whelks emerged. Sometimes, tiny empty shells remain trapped inside, and if the strand has dried naturally after washing ashore, you may even hear them gently rattle when you carefully pick it up.

    Fresh, flexible, or underwater egg cases may still contain developing baby whelks, so it’s always best to admire them where you find them and leave them undisturbed.

    Wonder Question

    Why do you think a mother whelk produces so many babies when only a few survive to adulthood?

    Why It Matters

    The ocean can be a challenging place to grow up. Predators, storms, and changing ocean conditions mean many young animals never reach adulthood. By producing many offspring, whelks increase the chances that at least some will survive and help continue the next generation.

    Adult whelks are important predators and scavengers that help keep marine ecosystems healthy and balanced. Every one of them began life inside one of these incredible egg cases.

    Did You Know?

    Some whelk egg cases contain 40 or more capsules, and each capsule can begin with dozens of developing embryos. Although many embryos start developing, only a few young whelks typically hatch from each capsule. Nature often produces more young than can survive—a strategy that helps ensure the species continues for generations.

  • Is Your Sunscreen Hurting the Ocean? What You Need to Know Before You Apply

    Is Your Sunscreen Hurting the Ocean? What You Need to Know Before You Apply

    Before you head to the beach, there’s one small step that can make a big difference for the ocean. Your sunscreen.

    It’s something we use to protect ourselves—but some ingredients may be doing harm beneath the surface.

    Beautiful underwater reefs like these need our help to protect them

    What’s the Concern?

    When we swim, shower, or even sweat, sunscreen washes off our skin and enters the water. Certain chemical ingredients have been shown to:

    • Harm coral reefs
    • Disrupt marine life
    • Contribute to coral bleaching
    • Build up in the tissues of fish and other organisms

    Even small amounts can have an impact—especially in heavily visited coastal areas.

    Ingredients to Avoid

    When choosing a more ocean-friendly sunscreen, try to avoid:

    • Oxybenzone (benzophenone-3)
    • Octinoxate (ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate)
    • Octocrylene
    • Homosalate
    • Octisalate
    • 4-MBC

    These are commonly found in many popular sunscreens.

    What to Look For Instead

    A better choice? Mineral (physical) sunscreens. Look for:

    • Non-nano zinc oxide (preferred)
    • Titanium dioxide (non-nano)

    These sit on top of your skin and reflect UV rays, rather than being absorbed into your body or the water.

    What Does “Reef-Safe” Really Mean?

    Here’s the tricky part: The term “reef-safe” isn’t regulated. That means products can use the label even if they still contain questionable ingredients. The best approach? Read the label yourself.

    Simple Ocean-Friendly Tips

    • Apply sunscreen before you get to the beach
    • Reapply after swimming—but be mindful of excess
    • Wear UPF clothing, hats, and sunglasses
    • Seek shade during peak sun hours

    Why It Matters

    Coral reefs support about 25% of all marine life—and protect our coastlines, too.

    Protecting them doesn’t require a huge lifestyle change. Just a better bottle.Choosing a more ocean-friendly sunscreen is one of the easiest ways to protect what you love—every time you step into the sun.

    A green sea turtle rests tucked under a reef
  • Parrotfish: The Ocean’s Sand-Making Heroes

    Parrotfish: The Ocean’s Sand-Making Heroes

    The parrotfish: One of the ocean’s prettiest and least appreciated fish. They’re not just a pretty face, they They literally poop sand! Nature is wild… but also kind of amazing.

    A Beautiful Parrotfish Nibbles Some Coral

    More Than Just a Pretty Fish

    Parrotfish are some of the most colorful fish on the reef—bright blues, greens, pinks, and purples that shimmer in the sunlight. But they’re not just there to look pretty. They’re working. All day long.

    Built for the Job

    Parrotfish get their name from their beak-like mouths, which they use to scrape algae off coral.

    As they feed, they also:

    • Bite off tiny pieces of coral
    • Grind it down with specialized teeth in their throat
    • Digest the algae

    And what’s left? Fine, white sand. Yes… They Help Build Beaches

    That soft, powdery sand you love walking on? Some of it may have passed through a parrotfish first. In fact, a single parrotfish can produce hundreds of pounds of sand each year. Over time, that adds up—helping to:

    • Build and maintain beaches
    • Create sandy habitats
    • Support coastal ecosystems

    Reef Protectors in Disguise

    Tiny fish. Big impact:

    Parrotfish don’t just make sand—they help keep coral reefs healthy. By grazing on algae, they:

    • Prevent algae from overgrowing coral
    • Give coral space to grow and thrive
    • Help maintain balance in reef ecosystems

    Without parrotfish, reefs can quickly become overrun with algae. And when reefs suffer, everything that depends on them suffers too.

    A Parrotfish Swims Past the Reef

    Why They Need Our Help

    In some parts of the world, parrotfish are heavily fished.

    That might not sound like a big deal—but removing them can lead to:

    • Algae-dominated reefs
    • Declining coral health
    • Loss of marine biodiversity

    Protecting parrotfish isn’t just about one species.

    It’s about protecting entire ecosystems.

    Why It Matters

    Healthy reefs mean:

    • More marine life
    • Stronger coastlines
    • Better protection from storms
    • More vibrant oceans

    And yes… even better beaches.

  • Every Light Matters

    Every Light Matters

    “Can one light really make that much difference?”

    During sea turtle nesting season on Florida’s Space Coast, it’s a question I hear often. It’s a fair one. After all, a porch light doesn’t seem particularly powerful. But to a hatchling emerging from its nest for the first time, that single light can mean the difference between reaching the ocean and heading in the opposite direction.

    Imagine spending your entire life curled up inside an egg in complete darkness, never being exposed to light of any kind. For nearly two months, a sea turtle hatchling develops beneath the sand, hidden from the world above. Then, one night, everything changes.

    The hatchling emerges and begins one of the most important journeys of its life: the crawl to the ocean. To us, that journey may look insignificant—a few yards of sand. But for a sea turtle, it marks the beginning of a remarkable biological process that scientists are still working to fully understand.

    As hatchlings make their way toward the water, they gather information about the world around them. They detect light, sense Earth’s magnetic field, and begin building the navigation system that may one day guide them across thousands of miles of open ocean and back to their natal beach areas.

    Scientists believe specialized magnetic receptors (magnetoreceptors) help sea turtles detect Earth’s magnetic field, while light-sensitive proteins called cryptochromes, found in their eyes, may function as a biological compass. These magnetoreceptors, microscopic crystals of magnetite which is often found in the turtle’s head or sometimes in their ear duct, serve as sensors that help them imprint on the Earth’s magnetic field. The cryptochromes, tiny light sensitive proteins found in the eyes, act like a biological compass. Together these two work as a magnetic map (magnetoreceptors) and a magnetic compass (cryptochrome). It’s how sea turtles can navigate some of the longest migrations in the animal kingdom, traveling thousands of miles each year to find their way back to their natal beaches, the area where they emerged. 

    The odds are already stacked against them. Only about one in 1,000 hatchlings is expected to survive to adulthood. For thousands of years, finding the ocean was simple. The brightest light was always the horizon where the moonlight reflected off the water, and nature programmed sea turtles to move toward that light. For countless generations, the system worked exactly as intended. Then we changed the rules.

    Today, the brightest light on many beaches isn’t the moon. It’s human behavior. Maybe it’s a brightly lit condo complex. Perhaps a beachfront home with bright white porch lights. Maybe it’s a heavily lit parking lot. It could even be an oceanfront restaurant with bright outdoor table lighting. However, to a hatchling, those artificial lights can look just like the horizon, and instead of heading toward the ocean, they head inland. Some become exhausted, dying in entangled vegetation or baking in the sun. Some become the victims of predators such as coyotes, armadillos, raccoons, ghost crabs, fire ants, feral cats, or unleashed dogs, just to name a few. Others wander into roads, parking lots, or storm drains and never reach the water at all.

    Artificial lighting affects nesting females as well. A sea turtle is nearly weightless in the water, but on land every ounce of her body weight hits her like a sledgehammer. A loggerhead may weigh 300 pounds. A green sea turtle may weigh 350 pounds. A large leatherback can exceed 1,000 pounds. The next time you visit the beach, try lying down in the sand and pulling yourself forward using only your arms. You’ll quickly discover it’s much harder than it sounds! That’s what nesting sea turtles experience every time they come ashore. After laying her eggs, an exhausted nester must find her way back to the ocean. Artificial lights can cause her to wander unnecessarily inland, wasting precious energy and increasing her risk of injury or stranding. Bright lights can also deter females from nesting in the first place, causing them to abandon a nesting attempt and return to the water without laying their eggs – a behavior known as a false crawl. Flashlights, light from cellphones or smart watches, beachfront lighting, and even misdirected roadside lighting can all disrupt nesting sea turtles. 

    And light isn’t the only challenge humans create. Beach furniture left overnight can block nesting females and hatchlings. Holes dug in the sand become traps. Sandcastles become barriers. Even a footprint can look like the Grand Canyon to a hatchling no larger than the palm of your hand. Uninformed or careless beachgoers can deter nesting females as well, simply by using their cellphone on an otherwise dark, quiet beach. 

    The best thing we can do for sea turtles is to leave our beaches clean, flat, and dark. Because conservation is often the story of small things. One hatchling. One nest. One light. One hole. One sandcastle. One decision. By themselves, these things may seem insignificant. Together, they can determine whether a sea turtle survives.

    Shielding lights, filling in holes, knocking down sandcastles, removing beach equipment, and picking up litter are all simple actions. Yet each one helps restore the conditions sea turtles depended on long before we arrived.

    When we understand how sea turtles experience the world, we begin to understand something else: The choices we make matter, too. Every light matters!

    • Witherington, Blair, and Dawn Witherington. Our Sea Turtles: A Practical Guide for the Atlantic and Gulf, from Canada to Mexico. 2nd ed., Pineapple Press, 2024. 
    • Witherington, Blair, and Dawn Witherington. Florida’s Living Beaches: A Guide for the Curious Beachcomber. Pineapple Press, 2007.  
  • Sargassum & Sea Turtles: When Nature Gets Out of Balance

    Sargassum & Sea Turtles: When Nature Gets Out of Balance

    Out in the open ocean, something magical floats just beyond the horizon. Golden-brown seaweed drifting in gentle mats. This is sargassum—“the golden rainforest of the sea.”


    A Floating Ecosystem

    Healthy sargassum is full of life. You’ll find:

    • Sargassum crabs
    • Sargassum fish
    • Juvenile eels
    • Tiny invertebrates

    We often call it seaweed, but it’s actually a brown macro-algae. In the Sargasso Sea it acts as a “nursery at sea”. It provides shelter, food, and protection—especially for young marine life. Even sea turtle hatchlings rely on it as a nursery habitat in their early ocean years.

    When Too Much Becomes a Problem

    But when unusually large amounts accumulate along nesting beaches, sargassum can create challenges for sea turtles. It can:

    • Trap hatchlings trying to reach the ocean
    • Smother nesting beaches
    • Block turtles from entering the water

    For a baby sea turtle, this can mean the difference between life and death.

    The Hidden Struggle

    Sometimes, tiny exhausted hatchlings are washed back onto shore. They should be heading out to the Sargasso Sea—their open-ocean nursery. Instead, they’re caught in chunks of Sargassum washing onto shore after storms or high winds. These baby sea turtles, known at this stage as post hatchlings are:

    • Weak
    • Disoriented
    • Out of energy
    Sargassum Crab
    Sargassum fish

    What NOT to Do

    It’s natural to want to help. But never put a post hatchling back into the water yourself. It’s like sending an exhausted marathon runner back to the starting line.They need rest and proper care—not another immediate swim.

    What TO Do

    If you find a stranded sea turtle (of any age) never intervene yourself. 

    In Florida, call the FWC hotline: 888-404-FWCC (3922). In other states, call your local wildlife agency or marine animal stranding network.
    Trained responders can assess and care for the animal properly.

    Why This Is Happening

    Record-breaking sargassum blooms are being fueled by:

    • Warmer ocean temperatures
    • Climate shifts
    • Nutrient runoff

    This imbalance is part of a much larger environmental story.

    Why It Matters

    Sargassum isn’t the enemy. In balance, it supports life. Out of balance, it becomes a barrier. And that’s a powerful reminder: When we disrupt nature…nature responds.

  • Mangroves: Guardians of the Shoreline

    Mangroves: Guardians of the Shoreline

    If you’ve ever paddled through a quiet mangrove tunnel or walked along the Indian River Lagoon at low tide, you’ve likely seen them—twisted roots rising from the water like something out of a storybook.

    Mangroves may not look glamorous, but they are some of the most powerful protectors in our coastal ecosystems.

    What Are Mangroves?

    Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees that grow along tropical and subtropical coastlines.
    Their tangled root systems create a living barrier between land and sea—and that barrier does more than you might think.

    A Hidden Nursery for Marine Life

    • Mangroves are bursting with life.
    • Manatees rest and feed in sheltered mangrove channels, grazing on nearby seagrass.
    • Juvenile fish and crustaceans—including snapper, grouper, shrimp, and blue crabs—use the roots as protection from predators.
    • Sea turtles, especially juveniles, forage in nearby seagrass beds connected to mangrove habitats.
    • Birds like herons, egrets, pelicans, and ospreys nest and hunt here.
    • Invertebrates such as oysters, barnacles, and sponges cling to the roots, filtering water and building mini ecosystems.
    Mangrove roots provide shelter for fish, crabs, reptiles, and many other species while protecting the shorelines from wave action and erosion. The tangled roots create underwater nurseries where young marine life can grow.

    These roots are more than structure—they are shelter, safety, and survival.

    Nature’s Storm Shield

    Mangroves absorb wave energy and reduce erosion, protecting coastlines during storms and hurricanes. They are one of nature’s best coastal defenders. Their dense, tangled root systems allow them to absorb wave energy. By slowing the movement of water, mangroves can lessen storm surge and reduce flooding, helping safeguard homes, businesses, and wildlife. Communities with healthy mangrove forests often experience less damage during extreme weather events, making these remarkable trees an important natural line of defense.

    What is “wave energy”? As waves move toward shore, they carry enormous force. The tangled roots of mangrove trees slow the water and absorb much of that force before it reaches the coastline. This is what helps reduce erosion and lessen storm surge and flooding, protecting beaches, homes, and wildlife from damaging waves hitting the shore during storms and hurricanes.

    Built-In Water Filtration

    Mangroves act like nature’s water filters. Their dense root systems slow the flow of water, allowing mud, sand, and other sediments to settle instead of washing into nearby estuaries, seagrass beds, and coral reefs. The roots also trap pollutants and excess nutrients carried by runoff before they can spread farther into the ocean. Cleaner water allows more sunlight to reach underwater plants, helping seagrasses and corals thrive while creating healthier habitats for fish, sea turtles, and countless other marine animals. Cleaner water means healthier ecosystems—and healthier marine life.

    A Climate Superpower

    Mangroves store massive amounts of carbon—up to four times more than rainforests. They are among the world’s most effective carbon storage systems. As they grow, they pull carbon dioxide—a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change—out of the atmosphere through photosynthesis. Instead of releasing that carbon back into the air, mangroves lock it away in their trunks, roots, and especially in the deep, muddy soil beneath them, where it can remain stored for hundreds or even thousands of years.

    This is what allows mangrove forests to store up to four times more carbon per acre than many tropical rainforests. Protecting mangroves doesn’t just benefit sea turtles and coastal wildlife—it also helps slow climate change by keeping carbon safely out of the atmosphere. Protecting them isn’t just about the ocean—it’s about our planet.

    Mangroves: The Ocean’s Unsung Heroes

    If you’ve ever paddled through a quiet mangrove tunnel or walked along the Indian River Lagoon at low tide, you’ve likely seen them—twisted roots rising from the water like something out of a storybook.

    Mangroves may not look glamorous, but they are some of the most powerful protectors in our coastal ecosystems.

    What Are Mangroves?

    Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees that grow along tropical and subtropical coastlines. Their tangled root systems create a living barrier between land and sea—and that barrier does more than you might think.

    A Hidden Nursery for Marine Life

    Mangroves are bursting with life.

    • Manatees rest and feed in sheltered mangrove channels, grazing on nearby seagrass.
    • Juvenile fish and crustaceans—including snapper, grouper, shrimp, and blue crabs—use the roots as protection from predators.
    • Sea turtles, especially juveniles, forage in nearby seagrass beds connected to mangrove habitats.
    • Birds like herons, egrets, pelicans, and ospreys nest and hunt here.
    • Invertebrates such as oysters, barnacles, and sponges cling to the roots, filtering water and building mini ecosystems.

    These roots are more than structure—they are shelter, safety, and survival.

    Nature’s Storm Shield

    Mangroves absorb wave energy and reduce erosion, protecting coastlines during storms and hurricanes. Communities with healthy mangrove systems often experience less damage during extreme weather events.

    Built-In Water Filtration

    Mangroves trap sediment and pollutants before they can reach coral reefs and seagrass beds. Cleaner water means healthier ecosystems—and healthier marine life.

    A Climate Superpower

    Mangroves store massive amounts of carbon—up to four times more than rainforests. Protecting them isn’t just about the ocean—it’s about our planet.

    What You Can Do

    Next time you’re at the beach, keep an eye out for mangrove propagules—long, green, pencil-shaped seedlings that have naturally detached and washed ashore.

    *Please note: Never pick or detach a propagule from a living mangrove. Only collect loose propagules that have naturally washed ashore.*

    You can:

    • Collect a loose, naturally fallen propagule
    • Place it upright in a cup of water
    • Watch as it begins to grow roots
    • Donate your growing mangrove to a participating local restoration program

    Here in Brevard County, Florida, Brevard Zoo’s Restore Our Shores program offers opportunities to foster mangrove seedlings for local restoration projects.

    Small actions grow into something bigger—just like mangroves themselves.

    Why It Matters

    When we protect mangroves, we protect entire ecosystems—from the smallest shellfish to the largest marine mammals. And ultimately…we protect ourselves.