The Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program (STCRP) at Mote Marine Laboratory, located in Sarasota, Florida, coordinates with county, state and federal efforts to conserve sea turtles—particularly loggerheads, since Sarasota County hosts the highest density of loggerhead nests in the Gulf of Mexico. The program includes staff, interns and volunteers who conduct a morning patrol to document the status of shoreline habitat and trends in sea turtle nesting. 

During summer 2015, I spent 3-1/2 months at Mote as an intern and helped to document a record amount of sea turtle activity. I participated in all aspects of field work, including responding to new nests and false crawls, depredations, hatches and drops, and excavations. Following patrol, I also had several responsibilities in the office, such as data entry and communication with volunteers and local agencies.

Following my time as an intern, the STCRP hired me as a Seasonal Biological Technician for the 2016 nesting season. While facing many of the same day-to-day tasks as a morning patroller, I was also in charge of nine college interns, whom I helped to train both in the field and in the office. I also took on additional responsibilities, such as maintaining all disorientation reports and recording nesting numbers. We had another record season with approximately 4,500  nests! 

Mote Marine Laboratory Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program

Sarasota, FL                            2015, 2016