Stella Maris Environmental Research is a 501(c)(3) not for-profit organization based in the heart of the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge (ACNWR). The ACNWR is arguably the densest nesting ground for Loggerhead sea turtles in the world and the most significant nesting grounds for green sea turtles in North America and a minor nesting area for the critically endangered Leatherback sea turtles. Stella Maris Environmental Research is permitted (MTP 20-149) to offer guided sea turtle watches and public nest productivity evaluations within the Refuge. If you would like to learn more about our sea turtle research projects please click the research tab under "sea turtles". 
Turtle Nest Dig Registration
 @ Coconut Point Park
3535 South Hwy. A1a
Melbourne Beach, Fl. 32951

June & July 
@ Coconut Point Park
3535 South Hwy. A1a
Melbourne Beach, Fl. 32951

July - August
​7:30 am

​Registration will be limited. 
Payment makes your reservation & must be received prior to your scheduled event to secure your spot.
Dont forget to like our page on Facebook, you can get updates there!
Please Download the guidelines prior to your walk. We ask that you read these and abide by them in order to have the best experience for yourselves and the nesting Loggerhead mommas. 
S E A  TU R T L E  M A N N E R S : a how-to guide. 


Do NOT:
  • SHINE ANY LIGHTS on or around sea turtles or their nesting habitats, this includes your trusty red lights (unless you catch the moon and then you can use that, its natural).
  • TOUCH any sea turtles, yes that includes their eggs and hatchlings. Y’all, its illegal, like a federal offense. Touching nesting females stresses them and adds human bacteria that dinosaur ancestors just aren’t used to. "She said don't hand me no lines and keep your hands to yourself. "
  • GET CLOSE to a nesting female turtle, social distancing applies here too, ya know, 6ft is pretty common place these days in our world, but lets give these mommas some more space.  Yep, same goes for hatchlings, you guessed it. 


DO: 
  • GET EDUCATED about nesting season, Brevard County is MAY 1 to OCT 31. 
  • GO ON A GUIDED WALK. Hey guess what? We offer them, join us. 
  • Build amazing sand castles and then KNOCK THEM down. Yes, that includes amazing rock structures/cairns, tiki huts, tents, holes. 
  • BE CHILL. if you are on the beach with a nesting momma and or hatchlings, give space, be still and keep quiet. Also, walk the waters edge to not disturb any other mommas. The ocean is healing anyway, you will be glad you did. 
  • PACK IN PACK OUT. Take your trash home in what you brought it in. People, its trendy, trust me or ask YETI, they are stoked about their business model. 
  • Think about where you place your fires and When. Fires can burn turtles, nesting and hatching. For real, you don’t want to be that person. 
  • TEACH OTHERS. don’t keep all that good information to yourself. Pass on the great information and know better, do better. 
  • SUPPORT local organizations that stay up all night bringing you closer to sea turtles so you aren’t the reason they false crawl and end up laying their eggs in the ocean. FUN FACT: turtles are reptiles, meaning their eggs don’t hatch in the ocean. 
  • KEEP IT CLEAN DARK AND FLAT. Need we say more?


WHY?
 statistics have shown about 1 out 1,000 turtles make it to adulthood.  They are an endangered species. They are “beach farmers”. You are an amazing human. So much more. 


Reading Material: 
 FWC info about turtles: https://myfwc.com/research/wildlife/sea-turtles/florida/faq/
About the endangered species act: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/general/about-the-endangered-species-act/


YOUR  WELCOME. 
You can click the link above or see calendar below and click on link within the date.
Calendar may not fit on mobile version- please turn your phone to see all dates.  
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