*****Permission for this cache approved by Park Management.*****
Sea turtles have been swimming around the oceans for over 100 million years. There are five species of turtles that live, feed, and nest along Florida’s beaches. Those sea turtles are the Leatherback, Green, Loggerhead, Hawksbill, and Kemp’s Ridley. Each type of turtle has uniquely distinct and different tracks when they crawl ashore to lay their eggs. It's truly an amazing site to witness. The 6 miles of beach from Fort Pierce Inlet State Park to Avalon State Park averages a combined total of 1500 to 2000 nests each year.
When female sea turtles are ready to lay their eggs they will travel thousands of miles to return to the same beach where they were born. These nesting females crawl onshore, excavate a sandy pit using their rear flippers, deposit a clutch of eggs and re-cover the pit with sand. Once they are done laying their eggs they immediately return to the ocean. This process is very arduous and can take between two to four hours from start to finish. After an incubation period of roughly 60 to 90 days baby hatchlings will emerge from their sandy egg chambers. These hatchlings use the natural moon light and other cues to guide them on their journey to the ocean.
The Leatherback is the world's largest sea turtle. They have tough, leathery skin with seven ridges running lengthwise down their backs which is how they get their name. These gaints weigh between 500 and 1500 pounds and average 6 feet in length. Most females weigh an average of 1000 pounds when they are ready to lay their eggs. The largest leatherback on record was nearly 10 feet long and weighed 2000 pounds. They are truly amazing creatures.
This is a Letterbox Hybrid cache. The posted coordinates takes you the sea turtle nesting sign at Avalon State Park. Here you can read and learn more about these amazing creatures. The final is just a short walk the down the sidewalk to the picnic area. At the final location, you are looking for a medium sized camouflaged container near the picnic table area. Watch out for muggles while looking for this cache. The stamp and ink pad stay with the container. Please do not attempt to grab this cache when the park is closed. The park is open from 8:00 am to sunset year round. After you sign the log, please re-lock and return the container to the same spot. The combo to the lock equals the average weight of a female Leatherback when nesting. I hope you enjoy it.
******This cache is hidden with permission from the Assistant Park Manager Donald Bentley and the Park Manager Bill Nash.*****