A Florida beach turned into a wildlife rescue after deputies found dozens of baby sea turtles heading in the wrong direction.
As WESH reported, about 75 hatchlings ended up stranded near a beach access point, coated in sand and moving away from the water until rescuers intervened.
What happened?
Deputies documented the overnight rescue in photos posted to the Volusia Sheriff's Office Facebook account (@VolusiaSheriff) after spotting the newborn turtles.
The image showed the diminutive turtles enclosed in a couple of containers after being secured by the officers.
Rather than heading for the shoreline, the animals were apparently making their way up a beach approach, according to the post. Accordingly, officers gathered them and handed them over to Volusia County staff.
County officials later returned every hatchling to the ocean. The sheriff's office put the number at roughly 75.
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The incident also comes amid a banner nesting season in Volusia County, as WESH noted. In July, officials announced that the 2026 count had reached 1,517 nests, setting a new record, per the outlet.
The 2023 total had been the previous high, and nesting season runs through Oct. 31, according to WESH, so additional hatchlings are still expected on area beaches. The latest total as of writing is 1,682 nests, per the official website.
Why does it matter?
When baby sea turtles become disoriented, even a short detour can put them at serious risk. Hatchlings are vulnerable to dehydration, exhaustion, predators, and human-made obstacles when they do not reach the ocean quickly.
Heading away from the ocean toward a public roadway could very well prove fatal for the disoriented turtles. While intervening with turtles isn't always the proper response, in this case it was to protect the hatchlings.
Volusia County's record number of nests suggests that local conservation efforts and public awareness may be helping create better conditions for sea turtles to return and reproduce.
What can I do?
Volusia County is already continuing its seasonal conservation work to build on the momentum of a record year for nests.
As WESH noted, people can help sea turtles by avoiding marked nesting areas and limiting or shielding beachfront lights at night. Artificial light can lead hatchlings in the wrong direction as they try to reach the water.
The station also said beachgoers should clear away furniture each evening, fill in holes, flatten sandcastles and dispose of trash properly.
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