SINGER ISLAND, Fla. — The largest species of sea turtle created a spectacle on a Florida beach Friday when she came ashore in the daylight, which is very rare, to lay eggs.
"No one really knows why some turtles choose to nest in broad daylight but (it) is a rare occurrence," officials with the Loggerhead Marine Life Center said on social media. "If you encounter a nesting female, while it is exciting to witness and something truly amazing, please keep your distance so she can safely and successfully lay her eggs."
Leatherback turtle nesting season is from March through July, according to wildlife officials. The majority of nesting occurs on the east coast of Florida, mainly in Palm Beach County.
Leatherback turtles can grow to be up to 8 feet long and weigh up to 2,000 pounds.
They have been listed as an endangered species since 1970.