SEA TURTLE SPECIES – Loggerheads

SEA TURTLE SPECIES – Loggerheads, Loggerheads, Caretta caretta

The loggerhead sea turtle is your “standard” sea turtle, weighing in between 200-400 pounds and reaching up to 4 feet in length as adults.

They are by far the most common nester here in Broward County, with 95% of our nests coming from these ladies. All of this nesting actually makes Florida super important for this species. In fact, 90% of the North Atlantic Loggerhead population nests in Florida, and 40% of global loggerhead nesting happens here, making the Florida beaches the most important rookery, or nesting area for these turtles.

Loggerhead nesting occurs during the majority of nesting season around here, starting mid-April and going until September. So, chances are, if you see a turtle out there on our beaches nesting at night, it’s going to be a loggerhead.

TURTELY COOL LOGGERHEAD FACTS

Their name comes from their gigantic head compared to its body size, and when they come up to breathe air, they often look like a log floating in the water
Their massive jaw structure allows them to crush crustaceans such as conch shells
Their shells often have barnacles and other algae growing on them

This species is listed as vulnerable globally, with subpopulations ranging from low concern to critically endangered. The Northwest Atlantic subpopulation (here) is listed as least concern, which is better than most, and that’s thanks to decades of conservation in the North Atlantic.