Tropical Storm Bertha swept across the Suncoast earlier this week, and while residents are busy assessing property damage and cleaning up debris, a quieter tragedy unfolded on Anna Maria Island’s beaches. According to the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring group, nearly two hundred sea turtle nests were disturbed during the four-day storm. The damage was severe: sixty-four nests were completely washed away, six suffered partial destruction, and seven were trapped in standing water. For context, these nests represent months of natural nesting cycles and hundreds of potential hatchlings that won’t make it to the ocean.
What makes this particularly challenging is understanding how the damage occurred. Many people assume storm surge and extreme tide levels are the culprit, but the science tells a different story. During Bertha, actual tide levels remained within normal ranges—high tides near two feet and low tides near a quarter foot. The real threat came from wind. Those powerful gusts created what’s called tidal overwash, essentially pushing waves significantly farther up the shore than they would naturally travel. It’s a reminder that tropical storms impact our environment in ways we don’t always see coming.
The good news is that local conservation efforts are ramping up. The Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring group is actively monitoring remaining nests, looking for any eggs or hatchlings that might still be viable, and preparing to protect new nests as the nesting season continues. Sea turtles are already facing pressures from climate change, habitat loss, and light pollution—losing nearly two hundred nests to one storm is a significant setback. If you care about preserving our Gulf Coast’s wildlife legacy, consider supporting local turtle watch organizations or simply respecting nesting areas when you visit the beach. What can the Suncoast community do to better protect these critical nesting habitats?
