Suzi in first place in Tour de Turtles Race

BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONENT | llake@amisun.com

In a field of 11 sea turtles in the Tour de Turtles race, Suzi, a female loggerhead who nested on Anna Maria Island, has taken a commanding lead and is in first place.

She has traveled a distance of 333 miles since her release on June 27 from Coquina Beach. She initially hugged the shoreline of AMI in the Gulf of Mexico before traveling south toward Cuba and then taking a turn west to open waters.

Suzi was outfitted with a satellite monitor after nesting and is participating in the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s Tour de Turtles race, which began on Aug. 1.

She was named in honor of the late Suzi Fox, long-time executive director of the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring.

Suzi is swimming in the race to draw attention to the cause of light pollution and how lighting near shore can negatively impact nesting turtles and their hatchlings.

“Reducing the amount of artificial light that is visible from nesting beaches is the first step to reducing light pollution that affects sea turtles. Lights along the coastline need to be shielded, changed or turned off during nesting season to prevent sea turtles from being disoriented, according to The Sea Turtle Conservancy, which runs the race.

Suzi’s participation in the 2023 Tour de Turtles is sponsored by the Coastal Wildlife Club, Waterline Marina and Resort, and Turtle Watch.

Visit The Sun’s Facebook page for weekly updates in “Where’s Suzi?” and visit amisun.com for weekly updates on turtle nesting activity in “Nesting News.”