Local
Sea turtles on Brevard beaches: when to call for help
How to distinguish a stranded hatchling from one heading to the ocean, report an exposed nest and reach the local rescue hotline.
A baby sea turtle on the sand does not always need rescuing. Florida wildlife officials distinguish turtles moving normally toward the ocean from young turtles washed back ashore by wind and waves. For Brevard beachgoers, that distinction determines when to leave a turtle alone and when to call for help.
Washed ashore or moving toward the water?
In its September 25 guidance, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission describes “washbacks”: young sea turtles carried ashore with floating seaweed. They may be tangled in seaweed or stranded in places such as yards or pools. Do not pick them up or put them back in the ocean. Call FWC’s 24-hour Wildlife Alert Hotline, 888-404-3922, for instructions. Turtles and hatchlings actively crawling toward the ocean do not need assistance.
Brevard’s local rescue contact
The Sea Turtle Preservation Society monitors its Brevard emergency hotline from sunrise to sunset every day. Call 321-206-0646 and leave a voicemail with the turtle’s location, a street address if possible, its condition and your name. The society says it calls back using the number you called from. The statewide FWC line is available 24 hours.
For a distressed turtle or an injured or lost hatchling, the society’s rescue guidance says to avoid touching it and wait for instructions. Do not attempt a rescue yourself. Do not remove an injured or lost hatchling from the beach unless instructed, or put it in water or air conditioning.
Exposed eggs: leave the area undisturbed
Do not collect exposed sea turtle eggs. FWC advises leaving storm-exposed eggs in place. For an exposed nest in Brevard, the society asks callers to leave a hotline message and avoid disturbing the area. A call lets responders give instructions for the situation you have found.
You can also help by taking beach gear home, filling holes you dig, disposing of trash properly and keeping lights off along the beach at night. These are FWC’s nesting-season recommendations; they do not require handling a turtle or a nest.