To Report a Sick, Injured or Dead Sea Turtle in Florida please call FWCC at  888-404-FWCC (3922)

Save-A-Turtle of the Florida Keys is a  100% volunteer non-profit organization  formed in 1985 under the sponsorship of the Florida Park Service, the Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission (now the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or FWCC), and St. James the Fisherman Church.  We continue partnering with other like-minded organizations throughout the world.

MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is to enhance and protect, through preservation and conservation, endangered and threatened sea turtle species and their habitat in the Florida Keys.  We do this by patrolling and monitoring beaches during the nesting season, along with education, outreach, beach clean-ups, rescue and advocacy all year long.

WHAT WE DO

​Save-A-Turtle (SAT) is comprised of Volunteers throughout the Florida Keys who monitor the beaches during nesting season. Everyday, our permitted beach walkers rise before the sun to walk the beaches in search of Sea Turtle nests. The nests are staked and monitored through hatching, apprx 60 days later, and excavations are performed afterwards, where we collect critical data regarding the hatchlings. This data is forwarded to the State of Florida and used for Sea Turtle preservation. 

​Our officers and board Members also work with the community at special events and through outreach programs at elementary schools providing education regarding the turtles themselves, nesting habits, predatory and environmental threats, and turtle friendly lighting. Save-A-Turtle conducts monthly meetings with an educational presentation which are open to the public.
 
Many of our members also volunteer with the Florida Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network and assist FWCC as needed throughout the Keys.

​Click below for downloadable PDF about SAT

INFORMATION BROCHURE

Watch the video above to see us in action!

​Often, live babies are found stuck or tangled in roots within the nest, and our permitted members will gently free and assess the little ones.  If they are in need of a little R&R or care, they are whisked to the Turtle Hospital in Marathon, where they are tended to until they are able to be released back to Mother Ocean.