FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The South Florida heat is causing more sea turtles to die in their nests, with this year’s dry scorching summer prompting embryo deaths to more than double, researchers say.
The nesting season runs from March 1 to Oct. 31 each year, and sees three species of sea turtles — the green, loggerhead and massive leatherback turtles — digging holes along Florida beaches to lay their eggs.
Female turtles typically dig nests every 11 days or so, dropping around 110 eggs per nest. The hatchling emerge two months later and make their way to the ocean.
