Hi Friends! I’m Donna! I’ve been nesting on this same beach in Jupiter, FL for more than 12 years and was just too tickled at the idea that I finally get to join the famous Tour de Turtles. My new human friends at Florida Leatherbacks, Inc. asked for my help to raise awareness about a serious threat called Coastal Armoring. You see, when I was heading to my favorite spot on the beach to nest for the first time this season, something went very wrong. There was a big wall in my way! I tried to go around it but it just went on and on and on. I got too tired so I had to go back to the water without nesting that night. It turns out, coastal property owners along beaches that are threatened by erosion often build armoring structures such as vertical seawalls, like the one I ran into, to help protect their land from erosion. Seawalls can take many forms and be constructed from wood, steel, concrete and even hundred-ton bags of sand known as geotube armoring. I’ll need your help during the race to raise awareness about this important issue facing Florida’s beaches and sea turtles. Florida Leatherbacks, Inc and STC are 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, Florida Leatherbacks, Inc.. Check out my marathon migration map, where you can follow along as I swim to raise awareness about the threat of Coastal Armoring to sea turtles. Please help me raise awareness about my cause by supporting me!

Learn more about leatherback sea turtles.