ST CROIX — Did you know St. Croix is home to three species of sea turtles that regularly nest across St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas? Each year, leatherback, hawksbill, and green sea turtles find their way to the sandy shores of the U.S. Virgin Islands to nest. Surprisingly, St. Croix has the highest density of sea turtle nests throughout the territory, with more than 15,000 sea turtle activities on the island yearly, resulting in 3,000 to 6,000 nests for all species!
Tracking this information is no easy feat! Thanks to the St. Croix Sea Turtle Project at Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), all sea turtles nesting on beaches across St. Croix are recorded and documented. This nonprofit organization studies and protects sea turtles in collaboration with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), focusing on sea turtle research and conservation. Funded by major research grants, private donors, and fundraising activities, St. Croix Sea Turtle Project provides extensive support for students and volunteers assisting with these projects, including field experience and training, conference attendance and costs, and mentoring during independent research projects. They’re sponsored by The Ocean Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization that aims to support, strengthen, and promote organizations dedicated to reversing the trend of destruction of ocean environments around the world. are open to local schools and homeschool students from March through June by appointment. St. Croix teachers and homeschool groups are encouraged to sign up for a classroom visit from Sandy Point’s outreach team for engaging presentations and hands-on learning about the sea turtles of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Each April, Turtle Watch invites students and young people of St. Croix to witness a nesting leatherback sea turtle or see an emerging leatherback nest up close. While turtle sightings are not guaranteed, these visits are certain to leave students and chaperones inspired and committed to supporting leatherback conservation. To learn more about St. Croix Sea Turtle Project and their efforts, visit their website at seaturtlecensus.com or visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/stxleatherbacks. One of the many important initiatives of St. Croix Sea Turtle Project is Sea Turtle Assistance and Rescue (STAR). This amazing group operates a 24/7 hotline dedicated to responding to sea turtle emergencies through a volunteer network of trained responders. Persons can call 340-690-0474 if they’re in the Virgin Islands and encounter sick, distressed, disoriented, or deceased sea turtles. Armed with the details like the location of the sea turtle (island and beach name), the closest access point by car, and description of any visible injuries, the responders go to the location equipped to do everything in their power to rescue the injured turtle.
Outreach and education are at the heart of St. Croix Sea Turtle Project. Their programs focus on sea turtles and their habitats while showcasing the natural beauty of Sandy Point NWR through presentations throughout the island. Discover Our Sea Turtles School Visit are open to local schools and homeschool students from March through June by appointment. St. Croix teachers and homeschool groups are encouraged to sign up for a classroom visit from Sandy Point’s outreach team for engaging presentations and hands-on learning about the sea turtles of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Each April, Turtle Watch invites students and young people of St. Croix to witness a nesting leatherback sea turtle or see an emerging leatherback nest up close. While turtle sightings are not guaranteed, these visits are certain to leave students and chaperones inspired and committed to supporting leatherback conservation. To learn more about St. Croix Sea Turtle Project and their efforts, visit their website at seaturtlecensus.com or visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/stxleatherbacks.
Written by Anquanette Gaspard
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