njoy an early morning beach walk with staff from the St. Lucie County Environmental Resources Department (ERD) and Ecological Associates, Inc. (EAI) as they survey sea turtle nests. Observe the excavation of a previously hatched sea turtle nest. If any hatchlings are found, watch as a permitted guide assists them to the water. These free nest excavation walks are scheduled for Fridays in August from 6:30 to 8 a.m.

Space is limited and registration is required. Registration opens July 29 at 8 a.m. at www.SLChikes.org.  Due to high demand, each participant is limited to one session. Participants should be able to walk up to one mile on beach sand.

Walks take place on South Hutchinson Island. The specific location will be determined by the hatching timeline of nests and shared with registrants at least 24 hours prior to the program.  These special experiences are part of St. Lucie County’s Guided Nature Program series.

Each program begins with a 10–15-minute discussion on sea turtle nesting, conservation efforts, and the importance of the “Dark, Flat and Clean” initiative. After a guided walk to the nest, biologists inventory and examine the contents. Any remaining hatchlings are released according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) guidelines. Finding hatchlings is not guaranteed, but is possible.

For additional tips about keeping our beaches sea-turtle friendly and to see the progress on nesting numbers, visit:  www.stlucieco.gov/seaturtleseason. For questions, please call 772-462-2536 or email slchikes@stlucieco.org.