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Sea Turtle Nesting Season Begins

May 22nd, 2015 by Mike Vasilinda

In addition to being the traditional beginning of beach season, Memorial Day is also the start of turtle nesting season in Florida. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, hundreds of dedicated volunteers protect nesting areas that would otherwise go unnoticed and likely be damaged by unsuspecting beach goers.

As the sun rises most mornings, you’ll find Bill Wargo walking the sands of Alligator Point, just south of the state Capitol.

“I always hoped that in retirement that I could maybe do something with the environment or nature, or whatever” says Wargo.

Retirement was in 2003. For the last 12 seasons, he’s been walking this beach, protecting the nests he finds. “And there is a certain amount of work and challenge to it, but I’ve always loved nature.”

Sometimes it’s not a turtle track that catches his interest….but man made beach paraphernalia….he tags it to let owners know it could impede a turtles route to a nest.

Nat sot: “because turtles will nest in this area.”

Five years ago when the BP oil spill threatened this beach, all of the eggs here were relocated to the east coast. Most turtles return to the beach where they were hatched to lay their own nest….usually 25 or 30 years later. No one can be sure what the turtles of the 2010 season will do…but Wargo says business has been booming at Alligator Point ever since the oil spill.

“Since since 2010, we’ve had more activity here on Alligator Point than we’ve ever had.”

Turtles begin nesting in the western gulf before reaching Alligator Point.

Along the beach, Wargo met a resident walking his dogs.” Are you seeing any turtles laying yet?” he was asked. “No not yet, but any day. Any day. We’re right at that point.”

And with Bills Wargo’s help, the 58 nests last year on this spit of land sent an estimated 5000 baby sea turtles into the gulf.

“And it’s been a labor of love” he adds.

Bill Wargo is a retired university professor and former director of state education technology. He says the health of sea turtles is important because it is an indication of the health of the Gulf of Mexico’s eco system.

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