The Conservancy of Southwest Florida’s sea turtle research team documented 425 nests from March to October on Keewaydin Island during nesting season. The season ended with 422 loggerhead nests and three green sea turtle nests. While the nesting numbers were steady, officials from the nonprofit said several storms disrupted hatching success. Southwest Florida’s beaches faced multiple wash-over events, including a tropical wave in June, elevated king tides in July, Tropical Storm Debbie in early August, Tropical Storm Francine’s effects in early September and storm surge from Hurricane Helene at the end of September. Storm surge from Hurricane Milton abruptly ended the season when the remaining nests were washed out. As a result of these storm events, approximately 43% of nests were lost — two nests to predation and 182 to impacts from storms. An estimated 14,975 hatchlings made it to the Gulf.