Mote Marine Laboratory offered thanks to the Longboat Key Turtle Watch, which donated $3,349 this week to Mote’s sea turtle programs and marine science education efforts. Turtle Watch volunteers presented donation checks to Mote staff Dec. 2, at the public Mote Aquarium exhibit “Sea Turtles, Ancient Survivors.” “We are excited to support Mote each year, [...]

Longboat Key is one paw closer to allowing dogs on the beach. The Longboat Key Town Commission, after hearing from residents on the pros and cons of allowing dogs access to Longboat Key beaches, decided to form a committee where both sides can form an approach that takes in the many property and health concerns of those opposed and the desires of those in favor who want their pets to enjoy the shoreline

A baby loggerhead heads to the Gulf Wednesday night, Aug. 24, on Longboat Key. Many of these turtle nest excavations are open to the public. Certified Turtle Watchers of LBK keep records for Mote Marine on all nests, hatchings and excavation data. Visit www.mote.org for more info.

Does four-legged friend Fido need to partake of Longboat’s fine white sandy beaches? That is the question of interest on many Longboater’s minds in recent weeks. Residents recently began weighing in on whether to allow dogs on Longboat beaches

The first sea turtle hatchlings of the year emerged this week from nests on Longboat and Siesta keys, according to scientists at Mote Marine Laboratory, who say the nests hatched right on time. Some of the hatchlings disoriented — lost their way to sea after becoming distracted by artificial light. To help hatchlings reach the [...]

Curious about sea turtles and nesting on our beaches? Learn the tale behind the turtle tracks with Mote Marine Laboratory’s Turtle Walks — free educational strolls in collaboration with Hilton Longboat Key Beachfront Resort. A Mote-trained volunteer will lead groups to scout for signs of turtle nesting while discussing sea turtles and other local wildlife, [...]

Three sea turtle nests were found this week by Mote Marine Laboratory, which began Sunday its 30th year of monitoring nesting on local beaches. Throughout nesting season — May 1 to Oct. 31 — Mote scientists, interns and more than 300 volunteers in Mote’s Sea Turtle Patrol monitor nesting on 35 miles of Sarasota County [...]

Sea turtle nesting season begins May 1, and Sarasota County is reminding residents about city and county ordinances that require beachfront businesses and residences to turn off or shield lights along coastlines to protect hatchlings. Southwest Florida beaches host the Gulf of Mexico’s largest nesting population of loggerheads, Kemp’s ridley and green sea turtles.

An ordinance intended to protect sea turtles by forcing property owners to relocate beach furniture at night failed to crawl successfully out of a Town Commission workshop and died on the floor. Longboat commissioners said the proposed rule was onerous, vague and perhaps unnecessary

Although turtle nesting season is over for the year, the new 2011 Longboat Key Turtle Watch shirts are now for sale at the Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armands Key Chamber of Commerce, 5570 Gulf of Mexico Drive, and the UPS store, 5380 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Suite 105. Cost for the shirts is $15. The next turtle season begins May 1.