Volunteers remind beach goers of turtle nesting season

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – In addition to being the traditional beginning of beach season, Memorial Day is also the start of turtle nesting season in Florida.

Hundreds of dedicated volunteers protect nesting areas that would otherwise go unnoticed and likely be damaged by unsuspecting beach goers.

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As the sun rises most mornings, Bill Wargo can be found walking the sands of Alligator Point, just south of the state Capitol.

"I always hoped that in retirement that I could maybe do something with the environment or nature, or whatever," Wargo said.

Retirement was in 2003. For the last 12 seasons, he's been walking this beach, protecting the nests he finds as part of the Alligator Point Sea Turtle Patrol.

"There is a certain amount of work and challenge to it, but I've always loved nature," Wargo said.

Wargo is a retired university professor and former director of state education technology. He said the health of sea turtles is important because it is an indication of the health of the Gulf of Mexico's ecosystem.

Sometimes it's not a turtle track that catches Wargo's interest but man-made beach paraphernalia. He tags it to let owners know it could impede a turtle's route to a nest.

Five years ago when the BP oil spill threatened the beach, all of the eggs there were relocated to the east coast.

Most turtles return to the beach where they were hatched to lay their own nests, usually 25 or 30 years later. No one can be sure what the turtles of the 2010 season will do, but Wargo said business has been booming at Alligator Point ever since the oil spill.

"Since 2010, we've had more activity here on Alligator Point than we've ever had," Wargo said.

Turtles begin nesting in the western gulf before reaching Alligator Point

Wargo said he hasn't seen any turtles laying yet, but it should happen any day.

And with Wargo's help, the 58 nests last year on that spit of land sent an estimated 5,000 baby sea turtles into the Gulf.

"It's been a labor of love," he said.