Three Green Sea Turtles Nested in July

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Sea Turtle Report 8-06-26

For the last week of July, 2026, Jeanene and Robert Jewett, part of the Collier County Sea Turtle Monitoring Team for Marco Island, encountered two green sea turtle nests on Marco Island. Earlier in the month, the first green sea turtle also nested on Marco’s Beach. This is a rare occurrence for Marco Island during the sea turtle nesting season. According to FWC, their nesting activity is less common compared to other species like loggerhead sea turtles, which are more prevalent in the region.

Fun Facts about the green sea turtles:

• The green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) has been designated as endangered in Florida since 1978 and federally designated as endangered.
• They are the largest of the sea turtles found in Florida, growing up to 500 pounds and measuring around three feet in length.
• You are what you eat and for green sea turtles – this is very true. Feeding on seagrass and algae gives them a distinctive green body fat.
• The fat is not something you see as it’s between their organ and shell.
• Female green sea turtles return to the beach where they were born (or a nearby beach) to lay their own eggs. This usually occurs once they reach maturity, at about 20 to 35 years of age.
• Easily recognized by their unique heart-shaped carapace (shell), which varies in color from olive green to dark brown.