Destin-Fort Walton Beach Sea Turtle Patrol

Destin-Fort Walton Beach Sea Turtle Patrol This is the official page for the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Sea Turtle Patrol.

This group operates under Marine Turtle Permit #251 issued by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Here you will find all of the important information related to the sea turtle nesting season in Destin-Fort Walton Beach which runs from May 1 – October 31. If you encounter a nesting female or an injured sea turtle, please call the FWC Wildlife Hotline at 888-404-3922.

06/13/2026

Happy Sea Turtle Week! We will be learning about the Hawksbill sea turtle today! 🌊🐢
Hawksbill sea turtles have long been targeted for the illegal tortoiseshell trade, where their beautiful shells were used to make jewelry, eyeglass frames, combs, and decorative items. This demand has contributed to severe population declines and threatens the survival of this critically endangered species. Choosing wildlife-friendly products and refusing tortoiseshell items helps protect hawksbills and ensures these remarkable sea turtles remain part of our oceans for generations to come.

06/12/2026

Happy Sea Turtle Week! Today is going to be all about our loggerhead sea turtles! 🐢
Safe fishing practices can make a big difference for sea turtles. Every year, sea turtles are injured by discarded fishing line, abandoned gear, and accidental hookings. By properly disposing of fishing tackle, retrieving gear when possible, and following responsible fishing guidelines, we can help keep our oceans safer for these incredible animals. A little extra care on the water can save a sea turtle's life. 💚

This week's Sea Turtle Hero is Brooklyn! 👏Brooklyn was visiting from Dallas, TX and saw our turtle patrol team driving d...
06/11/2026

This week's Sea Turtle Hero is Brooklyn! 👏

Brooklyn was visiting from Dallas, TX and saw our turtle patrol team driving down the beach during our morning survey and made sure she was up early enough to come talk to us and tell us how much she loves sea turtles and how she wants to get involved and help!

🐢Brooklyn jumped right in and became a Sea Turtle Hero! She used her sea turtle-friendly flashlight at night, picked up some trash, and filled in some holes on the beach!

Her passion for nature, wildlife, and helping the environment makes her the perfect Sea Turtle Hero!

Thank you, Brooklyn, for protecting our sea turtles and making our beaches a safer place for them on their journey 💙

You can pick up your Sea Turtle Hero packet at any of the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Welcome + Adventure Centers!

06/11/2026

Happy Sea Turtle Week! Today is Olive ridley Day 🐢
Sea turtles have been swimming in our oceans for millions of years, but today they face growing threats from habitat loss, pollution, and human activity. Protecting sea turtles means protecting their nesting beaches, keeping shorelines clean, and giving hatchlings the best chance to reach the sea. Every nest matters, and every small action helps ensure future generations can share our oceans with these incredible animals.

06/10/2026

Happy Sea Turtle Week! Today is all about the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle 🐢
Ocean pollution harms marine ecosystems and puts sea turtles at risk. By practicing responsible fishing and keeping our beaches clean, we can help prevent accidental entanglement and plastic ingestion. ♻️🌊

06/09/2026

Happy Sea Turtle Week! We are starting the week off highlighting the flatback sea turtle! 🐢
Help keep our beaches CLEAN by removing all of your belongings at the end of the day and picking up trash! 💙🌊

Happy World Ocean Day! 🐢🌊The ocean is at the heart of everything we love about Destin–Fort Walton Beach—from our beautif...
06/08/2026

Happy World Ocean Day! 🐢🌊

The ocean is at the heart of everything we love about Destin–Fort Walton Beach—from our beautiful beaches to the sea turtles that nest along our shores. This World Ocean Day, let's protect the waters and coastline that support these incredible animals and make our destination so unique. Together, we can keep our ocean healthy for generations to come.

If you're out enjoying our beautiful beaches today, make sure you give our ocean a little extra love by picking up leftover beach toys and trash to keep our beaches clean and safe for our nesting mommas! 💙🐢

Happy Friday Turtle Lovers! 🐢💚Make sure you stop into a Destin-Fort Walton Beach Welcome + Adventure Center to get your ...
06/05/2026

Happy Friday Turtle Lovers! 🐢💚

Make sure you stop into a Destin-Fort Walton Beach Welcome + Adventure Center to get your Sea Turtle Hero Packet and join our Turtle Hero Team by keeping our beaches clean, dark, and flat!

Join us this summer for an interactive and educational event, C.A.R.E.ing for Turtles, at the Gulfarium CARE Center 🐢💚Ou...
06/03/2026

Join us this summer for an interactive and educational event, C.A.R.E.ing for Turtles, at the Gulfarium CARE Center 🐢💚

Our first one is next Wednesday, June 10th! Come learn about our nesting sea turtles and what you can do to help them. Guests will get an inside look at the Gulfarium's rehabilitation center and their patients and will even get to do a mock intake of an injured sea turtle!

You don't want to miss this! 😁 Sign up at www.gulfarium.com/careing-for-turtles

It's Turtle Tuesday and this is your season update! 🐢We are up to 4 loggerhead nests and 4 loggerhead false crawls on ou...
06/02/2026

It's Turtle Tuesday and this is your season update! 🐢

We are up to 4 loggerhead nests and 4 loggerhead false crawls on our beaches! 🥳 This is an awesome way to start out our season! Keep on maniNESTING those nests!

Please help us make the beaches a safe place for our sea turtles to lay their eggs!

🌝 Let's keep our beaches DARK - refrain from using a white light on the beach at night, close your curtains, turn off all outdoor and indoor lights! If you have to use a light at night, make sure it is a RED sea turtle-friendly light! You can pick one up at any of the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Welcome + Adventure Centers.

If you come across a nesting sea turtle, please call our Sea Turtle Hotline ☎ 850-461-2885.

All of the surveying, nest marking, and evaluation work conducted by this group is permitted through the FWC Marine Turtle Program under MTP # 26-251.

Address

1540 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE
Fort Walton Beach, FL
32548

Telephone

+18506095381

Website

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