2015 Hawksbill and Honu Sea Turtle Nesting Season Begins

As sea turtles emerge onto beaches to lay their eggs, they leave distinctive 3 ft. wide tracks behind in the sand. Photo credit: Cheryl King.

By Maui Now Staff

Wildlife officials are asking the public to be mindful of Hawksbill and green sea turtles as they begin their 2015 nesting season along Maui beaches this month.

The public is advised to stay at least 30 feet away from nesting turtles and watch quietly, as they are easily disturbed.

The public can also help by keeping their dogs on a leash when walking on Maui beaches, and staying at least 15 feet away from basking (resting, not nesting) green turtles according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Agency officials say, “the success of their nests is crucial for the survival of these threatened and endangered species.”

In a department press release, authorities said turtle hatchlings should not be picked up and placed in the ocean, as “they need to crawl on their own to set their navigational compass and increase their chance of survival.”

In addition to keeping a safe distance, wildlife officials ask the public to immediately report sightings of nesting activity, fresh turtle tracks, nest hatchlings, or turtles in trouble by contacting one of the following individuals:

• Skippy Hau, Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources: (808) 243-5294;
• Courtney Brown, US Fish and Wildlife Service: (808) 268-6316, [email protected]; or
• Cheryl King, Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund: (808) 385-5464, [email protected], www.wildhawaii.org.

“Dawn Patrol” volunteers from the US Fish & Wildlife Service will be walking ‘key’ beaches each morning from June 1 to Sept. 30 to search for tracks left in the sand by nesting turtles.

The agency, in coordination with the state Aquatics Resources Division and the Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund work collectively and alongside volunteers to identify, mark, monitor and protect sea turtle nests.