Sea Turtle Conservation
Saving our coastal environments one turtle at a time.
SEA TURTLES…
Florida Sea Turtles
Loggerhead
Green
Leatherback
Hawksbill
Kemp’s Ridley
Are Sea Turtles Endangered?
Our Sea Turtle Programs
Part of Coastal Connections Inc.’s mission is to continue this successful recovery by connecting more people to wildlife through our educational interactive sea turtle encounters and community conservation programs.

Turtle Digs:
During nesting season, you can see hundreds of nests marked off with yellow signs, red stakes, and orange ribbon along the beach signifying sea turtle nests. Data collected from nest evaluations allows decision makers to understand how well the beaches are incubating sea turtle nests, and if these nests are experiencing any impacts that can be managed more efficiently. You can receive a small presentation about sea turtle biology, threats to their survival, and ways to help protect turtles, all while standing only a few feet away from a nest evaluation conducted by the County Sea Turtle Program staff and CCinc volunteers. If any straggler hatchlings are found during the excavation, guests will then get to watch them be released into the ocean at the end of the dig.
These Turtle Dig experiences will take place:
- Months: July and August
- Date: 3 days after a nest hatches
- Time: 8am
- Location: Ocean Grill
1050 Beachland Blvd.
Vero Beach, FL 32963

Adopt-A-Nest:
Your adoption directly benefits the continued effort of protecting our sea turtles by providing educational interactive experiences. If your adopted nest hatches in July or August it may even be used for a public Turtle Dig. With your adoption you will receive an official adoption certificate and the reproductive results of that nest and depending on the adoption package you choose, you may get some extra special gifts.
Thank you to all of our 2020 adoptees! We were able to adopt over 40 successful nests this year.
Opens again in May 2021!

Turtle Releases & Rescue:
CCinc partners with Indian River County (IRC) to rescue sick and injured sea turtles along the County’s coast. These turtles are taken to multiple rehabilitation facilities all over the State of Florida. When these turtles are fully healed and healthy they become releasable and many times get to come back to IRC to return back home. CCinc works with many partners to organize free educational public turtle releases so everyone can hear about the amazing recovery story from each of our rescued turtles.
Dates and locations for releases are decided by FWC and announced only days before the release event.
Please follow us on social media so you can stay up-to-date on all sea turtle releases throughout the year.
If you find a stranded hatchling or adult sea turtle, please contact FWC directly at (888) 404-3922.
Our Turtle-Friendly Business Partners:
- Promote local sea turtle activities
- Provide educational materials
- Keep beaches clean and natural
- Follow the lighting ordinance
- Prevent obstructions to nesting
In return, these businesses receive first notice of any sea turtle interaction programs occurring throughout the summer in IRC and also appears in multiple local press releases. Over the years, interest in the program grows and each business does a phenomenal job keeping up their turtle friendly standards and bringing personality to the program. A recap of major successes from this program include: adding paper straw options, adding educational beach access signs, retrofitting property lighting, and adding fun turtle activity displays in hotel lobbies. We encourage you to support and visit the 2018 Turtle Friendly Businesses
Educational Resources
These CCinc recommended educational resources are a great place to learn more about how you can do your part in preserving sea turtles and their natural habitats.
A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free (800-435-7352) within the State. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the State.