'This is a nature thing': Sea turtle nests impacted by Dorian on local shoreline

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Our local shoreline made it through the storm.

But another part of our ecosystem didn't fare so well ... our sea turtles.

Action News Jax reporter Courtney Cole spoke to Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol  to find out how many of the nests survived.

There are just under two months left of turtle nesting season in Florida.

Now that Hurricane Dorian has left our area, a nonprofit is here to see how many nests survived the coastal storm.

"This is the first chance we've gotten out in about four days," said Kevin Brown, with the Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol.

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That's because Duval County beaches were closed ahead of Hurricane Dorian's arrival.

Brown told Action News Jax Courtney Cole they keep a GPS on each nest; they use a chart the nest locations organized.

Beaches Sea Patrol told Cole they started off with 116 nests this year.

Before Dorian - about 40 were incubating.

After Dorian - about 10 of the marked nests were left.

Right now, they're still trying to locate the other 30 but the nonprofit says the nests were likely washed out.

Brown told Action News Jax this happened in previous years too with Hurricanes Matthew and Irma.

"This is a nature thing, whether we mark them or not. This is probably going on up and down the East Coast," said Brown.

Brown said since the water didn't make it all the way up to the dunes, the turtles that survived were either inside of the dunes -- or closest to them.

"Let's hope we don't get another one any time soon, ' said Brown.

If you find any sea turtle hatcheling on the beach, FWC said to keep your distance and leave them in their nest.

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