Time to look out for turtles

Turtle season is almost upon us and last week the merry band of volunteers registered for the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch.
In about six to eight weeks, the volunteers will be out on the beaches looking for signs that hatchling sea turtles have crawled across the sand to take their first swim in the sea.
On April 23, AMITW volunteers gathered at Holmes Beach City Hall for an annual orientation meeting and to sign up to walk a section of beach. The volunteers often work in pairs, generally assigned to walk about a mile of beach once a week looking for tracks and other signs of nesting activity.
AMITW has collected data on nesting sea turtles since 1982, providing information used to track the status of the endangered animals, as well as chart the impact of changes on the coast. Additional groups around the state provide data to create a composite picture of activity on the coasts — information used by local and county governments, the FWC and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, as well as federal agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Last year, AMITW reported that 10,074 hatchlings emerged from nests on the island.
If you see one, or notice anyone interfering with turtles in any way, you should contact the authorities immediately.