2026 Turtle Survey at Wekiwa Springs State Park

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It was such an honor to participate in this turtle survey last month by assisting at the education station.

I had a great time learning about how and why turtle surveys are conducted, and it was a treat to be able to pass on that information to park visitors:

These surveys at Wekiwa Springs State Park began in 2000 and are a great way to learn about the health of freshwater turtles and the overall ecosystem.
During this year’s 2-day survey, one of the “recaptures” was a turtle that had first been captured and tagged in 2000!
Recaptured turtles are measured and weighed so that this can be compared to past data.
Measurements are taken on first-time captures, who are also given a PIT tag so they can be easily identified in the future.
The PIT tag is the primary identification method. Each turtle is also given a secondary identification by either notching the shell in unique locations or (for softshell turtles) tattooing a unique number on the underside.
At the end of the day, all the turtles are released back into the part of the waterway where they were found!