Meet the Florida Softshell Turtle 🐢—a flat, fast, and fascinating resident of South Florida waters! With its leathery shell and snorkel-like nose, this turtle can bury itself in sand and wait for dinner to swim by. But don’t be fooled by its calm appearance—its long neck and sharp jaws make it a skilled hunter. 💡 Pro tip: If you spot one crossing the road, use caution (and gloves!)—it won’t see you as a helper. 🐾To learn more about South-West Florida’s ecosystem and fauna, tune into this week

On this TURTLELY awesome Freedom Friday we're sharing a softshell turtle release! It was a little hesitant at first, but once it saw the water, it was ready to go!🐢 💨 Releases like this are possible because of our fantastic rehab team and release volunteers, which we are so thankful for! #FloridaWildlifeHospital #RescueRehabRelease #softshellturtle #wildliferelease #KeepingWildlifeWild #turtle | Florida Wildlife Hospital

Sea turtle nesting season in Florida has begun! Although the calendar says nesting season doesn’t start until March 1st, leatherback sea turtles in our area have been nesting earlier and earlier for the last few years. The companies that survey Treasure Coast beaches each morning won’t get started until March 1st, so if you see a sea turtle nest before then, please report it to FWC by calling 1-888-404-3922. And remember - now’s the time to start keeping our beaches dark, flat, and clean! Ecolog