My name is Freckles and I’m the most lovable leatherback you’ll ever meet! I recently nested on a beautiful beach in South Florida and was just too tickled at the idea of joining the Tour de Turtles. My new human friends asked for my help to raise awareness about a serious threat called beach erosion. Doesn’t that sound frightening?! Almost half of Florida’s nesting beaches are critically eroded. This is bad news for sea turtles like me,because the only place we can lay our eggs is on sandy beaches. Beach re-nourishment is the primary strategy to combat coastal erosion in Florida. While this can help, it must be carried out correctly and under strict guidelines that ensure the "new beach" is compatible for successful nesting. You can also help by planting native dune vegetation on beaches and electing leaders who will address climate change and sea levelrise. STC is keeping a close eye on things at home in Florida, so I think it’s about time for me to skedaddle on out of here and spread the word!

I was named by my Sponsor, Sea Turtle Conservancy. Check out my marathon migration map, where you can follow along as I swim to raise awareness about the threat of Beach Erosion to sea turtles. Please help me raise awareness about my cause by supporting me!

Learn more about leatherback sea turtles.