Turtle tracks tell us so much information

The turtles have started coming up to nest and it is very exciting and people will do anything to help the turtles which is amazing for conservation but if you disturb the turtle tracks you find on the beach before one of our team has been down to have a look you make our job twice as hard.

Some of the things we are looking at with turtle tracks are:

a. Species - the two main species that nest in the Fraser Coast area are loggerheads and green sea turtles and the tracks are very different.

b. If the turtle is going up the beach and where she came back down , great for working out whether she nested or was looking for a spot but just couldn't find it as the beach was not suitable

c. The size of the turtle can be estimated from the size of the tracks

d. If the turtle has any injuries to their flippers or not, mating and generally life in the ocean can be quite rough on the girls and they often have part of or sometimes all of a flipper missing and we can identify a turtle by her tracks.

So its vitally important to not interfere with turtle tracks on the beach. What we would appreciate is if you find turtle tracks ring or text 0417 633 281 and let Lesley know where the tracks are and time and date so she can forward the info to a team leader to investigate.

If you come across tracks that have been messed up then we have been and had a look and made our notes and are aware of the turtle.