The 55 loggerheads are among the 3,000 disoriented turtles recorded in 2026 at Florida’s Anna Maria Island
Credit: Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Artificial lighting from buildings near the beach is the likely cause of the disorientation and deaths of 55 newly hatched loggerheads on Anna Maria Island in Florida
- Anna Maria Island has recorded 3,000 disoriented hatchlings this nesting season, including 140 dead turtles
- Experts urge residents to limit external lights and close blinds at night to protect vulnerable sea turtles
Florida’s Anna Maria Island is mourning the loss of dozens of newly hatched loggerhead sea turtles.
According to WWSB, 55 baby turtles were found dead on one of the island’s coastal roadways. Kristen Mazzarella, the executive director of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, told the outlet that artificial lighting from nearby businesses and residences is likely to blame for the mass death.
“The turtles use light as a cue; the night sky reflecting on the water is going to be bright to them, and that way they’ll go towards the water,” Mazzarella explained of what happens when loggerhead turtles hatch on the island’s beaches. “But if there’s brightness in the area that should be dark, they might be heading towards that brightness instead.”
The 55 turtles found dead on the road likely ended up there after following artificial lights from buildings near the beach and onto the street.
Credit: Getty
“It was just crushing to see so many dead turtles in the road; there were over 50 hatchlings dead in the road,” Mazzarella added. “Our nighttime team took the call; they went out, and they collected a number of hatchlings.”
Mazzarella told WFLA that the group of 55 dead, hours-old hatchlings, initially found by visitors from Indiana, is the largest group of dead turtles she has found in one location in her 28 years of working with the animals.
Unfortunately, these aren’t the only disoriented turtles Anna Maria Island has encountered this year. Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring has recorded 3,000 disoriented hatchlings during the 2026 nesting season, including 140 dead turtles.
Peak sea turtle nesting season lasts May 1-October 31 on the island, so animal experts are warning Anna Maria Island residents to be cautious with their artificial lighting use to prevent further casualties.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring urges island residents to limit the use of external lights and to check whether lights on their properties are visible from the beach. Residents should also keep their blinds closed at night to prevent indoor lighting from disorienting turtles. Those who spot hatchlings they believe are disoriented should contact the 24-hour Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch hotline at 941-301-8434.
Read the full article here
