Florida is the only state in the continental U.S. where
leatherback turtles regularly nest. With the exception of a few
nests on the west coast, leatherbacks nest almost exclusively on
the east coast of Florida. In fact, about 50 percent of
leatherback nesting occurs in Palm Beach County. Leatherback sea
turtles are named for their rubbery shell and are the largest
sea turtles. Adults can weigh between 700 and 2,000 pounds and
reach 4 to 8 feet in length. Leatherback nesting in Florida
occurs from April through July. A female will nest at intervals
of two to three years, laying between six to nine nests per
season. They lay about 80 fertilized eggs and then cover them
with a layer of about 30 unfertilized eggs. This layer serves as
protection from predators like birds and raccoons and also
regulates the temperature. View Statewide Leatherback Nesting
Data (68KB PDF)