MIA Art Students Get Creative To Save Baby Turtles

Marco beaches turn into a nesting habitat for female loggerhead sea turtles during Sea Turtle Season from May 1st to October 31st, and according to UF/IFAS Sea Grant, only one out of 1,000 sea turtles will survive to adulthood. 

At the December meeting of the Beach and Coastal Resources Advisory Committee (BACR) member John Quinlan presented artwork completed by students of Marco Island Academy’s Art Class taught by Shane Totten. It was part of a creative initiative, “To Save the Baby Sea Turtles,” using doorknob hangers/window clings.“ The students loved working on this project,” said Totten. 

The idea was to use local artwork to educate the owners/renters of properties facing the beach about sea turtle nesting season. Quinlan presented selected pieces of the renderings to the Beach Committee and will have the final decision before the 2025 Sea Turtle Season. 

Update on Bucket Tree for Trash Pick-Up. 

According to Mary Holden, Senior Planner, “Per the instruction of the Committee, we ordered 100 black buckets at the end of the fiscal year. We did not order the decals hoping that by not having the City of Marco Island logo on them, they would be returned. The buckets kept disappearing and were being taken as “Marco Island souvenirs.” The challenges we face are continuing to replenish the bucket tree knowing they will not be returned; drilling holes or buying buckets with a mesh, which can be used for shells; removing the bucket trees, adding signage that states do not take if you do not pick up trash and return, or any other idea or thought?” 

Update on WISDOM Good Bites (rodent birth control) at Mackle Park. 

According to a narrative attached to the committee agenda, “Good Bites has been in use for the past three months. Since our pest control company does not provide the Good Bites, we rely on volunteers to fill the stations. It is too soon to provide observations on the effectiveness but stations in high-density areas have been used. This is a good sign.” 

Ultimately, one of the goals of the project, according to Alaina Gonzalez-White of WISDOM Good Bites, is to move the rats far enough away from the area that people most frequently use to the point that they are undetectable. Per Gonzalez-White, Good Bites don’t kill anything, but they keep the problem from growing. By feeding the remaining rats in an area that’s less of a nuisance to the staff and park users, you’re protecting the food chain and your abundant wildlife habitat while providing for a most enjoyable park that is safe for all.”In addition, it was stated that “Audubon is meeting and providing information to a few condos on the island about switching over to using Good Bites.” 

Update on Beach Cleanup 

The 2025 Beach Cleanup schedule is almost finalized. The monthly beach cleanup is an all-volunteer effort organized through BARC, which works with local monthly sponsors such as the Marco Island Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber has been a beach cleanup sponsor for over 10 years. Almost all the sponsorships are renewed each year.