Dune Duty

A New Volunteer Initiative Aims to Plant 12,000 Sea Oats in Manatee County

Keep Manatee Beautiful is looking for 300 volunteers to help plant sea oats along the dunes of Anna Maria Island in an effort to shore up the natural protections between the island and the water.

07/16/2025 By Kim Doleatto

Turtle Power

It's Sea Turtle Nesting Season. Here's How to Keep Turtles, Nests and Those Tiny Hatchlings Safe.

It's important to be aware of your surroundings over the holiday weekend.

04/28/2025 By Staff

Turtle Power

Mote Releases Two Loggerhead Sea Turtles Following Rehabilitation for Red Tide Toxicity

"Grimm" and "Monique" were rescued earlier this year off Sanibel Island and Siesta Key, respectively.

04/23/2025 By Staff

Just Keep Swimming

Mote Is Nursing 22 Cold-Stunned Juvenile Green Sea Turtles Back to Health

Cold-stunning occurs when turtles become lethargic due to rapidly dropping water temperatures.

01/31/2025 By Staff

Turtle Time

Mote Releases Lil' Dougie, a Rehabilitated Loggerhead Sea Turtle, on Siesta Key Beach

The female loggerhead sea turtle was found floating in Blackburn Bay by Doug Johnson, a Sarasota County Sheriff's office staff member.

08/12/2024 By Megan McDonald

Just Keep Swimming

The First Sea Turtle Nests of 2024 Have Arrived

The first documented nest was laid by a loggerhead sea turtle, a threatened species protected under federal law.

04/29/2024 By Staff

Turtle Power

Mote Marine Laboratory Releases Clarice, a Rehabilitated Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Some good news for Monday.

03/18/2024 By Staff

Heroes in a Half Shell

Mote Reports Record-Breaking 2023 Sea Turtle Nesting Season

This year’s total is the fifth highest overall since Mote's Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program program began 42 years ago.

11/06/2023 By Staff

Turtle Power

Mote Establishes Voluntary Sea Turtle Protection Zone in Sarasota County

The zone stretches from Longboat Key to Siesta Key, including Sarasota Bay, and extends from the shore to 1.5 miles offshore.

07/07/2023 By Staff

Heroes in a Half Shell

Mote Releases Two Rehabilitated Sea Turtles

Lilly and Farmer recovered from red tide toxins at Mote's Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital.

05/16/2023 By Staff

Nesting Season

Sea Turtle Nesting Is Here

Residents are urged to keep light out of sight and remove unused beach furniture and coastal structures to help sea turtle hatchlings survive.

05/02/2023 By Staff

Turtle Tragedy

How to Help Keep Sea Turtles Safe This Summer

A sea turtle that was hit by a boat recently washed up on Siesta Key. Mote Marine Lab offers tips for how to keep the animals safe.

06/16/2021 By Emma Lichtenstein

Turtle Power

Sea Turtles Arrive in Sarasota on Earth Day

The first nest of the 2021 season was reported just north of the public Venice Beach area.

04/22/2021 By Staff

Wildlife

Mote Releases Recovered Sea Turtle on Longboat Key

Connor, who was brought to Mote's Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital in September, was released into the Gulf of Mexico with a satellite tag this morning.

01/13/2021 By Megan McDonald