SANIBEL, Fla. — The Sanibel Captiva Community Foundation say the first sea turtle nest of the season was found Wednesday on Sanibel.
The foundation says the nest was laid by a leatherback - the largest turtle species on the planet.
![The first sea turtle nest of the season was found Wednesday on Sanibel](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a2b70fe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1440x1440+0+0/resize/1280x1280!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb0%2Fdf%2Fa7b2725947578a42b5fdd8807d69%2Fsccf2.jpeg)
SCCF says this is the first leatherback nest on Sanibel or Captive in four years - describing leatherbacks as the significantly larger than loggerheads.
![The first sea turtle nest of the season was found Wednesday on Sanibel](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d3b4a4a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1400x1400+0+0/resize/1280x1280!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F7d%2F9c659c904a5889153088a27a0d0f%2Fsccf3.jpeg)
As sea turtle nesting season continues, the foundation's team reminds you the community that we all can participate in keeping these animals safe by doing the following:
- Help us by turning off lights visible from the beach after 9 p.m. (including flashlights!)
- Leveling sandcastles
- Filling in holes
- Removing furniture and other obstacles from the beach
- Picking up trash
- Staying at least 10 feet away from posted nest areas.
Call the SCCF Sea Turtle Hotline at 978-728-3663 to report issues with nests, nesting turtles, or hatchlings. SCCF’s nest protection activities are authorized by MyFWC Florida Fish and Wildlife under MTP-047 and MTP-170.