Wildlife Adoption Programs

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Wildlife Adoption Programs

SCCF monitors many species and habitats on Sanibel and Captiva. By symbolically adopting a species, sea turtle nest, or section of the beach, you directly help with our research for them.

Adopt a Sea Turtle Nest

Symbolically adopt a sea turtle nest to promote conservation

Adopt a Sea Turtle Nest

SCCF's sea turtle program surveys 18 miles of beach every morning from April to October. Over 100 volunteers help with nest-monitoring activities.

CLICK TO ADOPT A SEA TURTLE NEST >>

By symbolically adopting a nest, you are playing an instrumental role in our sea turtle conservation and research activities. Your tax-deductible contribution will help defray the costs of the program. In December, you'll receive a certificate reporting the results of your adopted nest. Thank you for helping these amazing creatures survive!

If this is a gift for someone, please check "I would like to dedicate this donation."

Adopt a Shorebird

Support the Island's Shorebirds: Snowy Plovers, Wilsons Plovers, and Least Terns

Adopt a Shorebird

SCCF has been monitoring shorebird nesting activity on Sanibel and Captiva since 2002. This work is made possible in part by contributions received through our adoption program.

CLICK TO ADOPT A SHOREBIRD >>

The three main species that nest on our beaches are snowy plovers, Wilson’s plovers, and least terns. Shorebird nesting season begins in February and ends in August, when all chicks have fledged. We continue to monitor our birds throughout the year, and also conduct various surveys for other migratory and wintering shorebirds.

By adopting a shorebird, you will be assisting our project by helping with the costs of supplies, such as fencing for nesting areas, which requires wooden posts, signage, hardware, string, and flags. We also conduct various research projects that require supplies such as GPS units and banding equipment. By banding our snowy plovers with unique color band combinations, we are better able to track their nesting success and follow broods until fledging.

If this is a gift, please check "I would like to dedicate this donation."

Adopt an Indigo Snake

Help us research and conserve some of the last barrier island Eastern Indigo Snakes

Adopt an Indigo Snake

SCCF's Eastern Indigo Snake Project was established in 2012 to research and help sustain the last known viable populations of Eastern Indigo Snakes on barrier islands in Florida.

CLICK TO ADOPT AN EASTERN INDIGO SNAKE >>

This species has been protected in Florida since 1971 and by the USFWS since 1978 and is in need of continued conservation efforts.

By adopting an Eastern Indigo Snake, you will be assisting SCCF's project by helping with the cost of PIT tags and scanners, signage, fuel costs for boat travel, as well as various materials and equipment including scales, measuring tape, vials for genetic samples, sexing probes, forceps, and tweezers.

You will receive an eastern indigo project pamphlet with every adoption, plus will be part of this much-needed effort to sustain these magnificent reptiles.

Adopt a Sea Turtle

Symbolically adopt a nesting loggerhead and get detailed reports about her 2025 nests

Adopt a Sea Turtle

Adopt a Sea Turtle (Lifetime)

Rename your adopted turtle, get detailed reports each year she returns to the islands, receive a customized item, and more.

Adopt a Lifetime

Adopt a Box Turtle

Directly support the cost of supplies for our Florida Box Turtle monitoring and research

Adopt a Box Turtle

SCCF's Florida Box Turtle Project began in 2002 to assess Florida Box Turtle populations on Sanibel and Captiva, as well as to discover their habitat preferences, diet, reproductive activity, and home range.

CLICK TO ADOPT A BOX TURTLE >>

By adopting a Florida Box Turtle, you will be assisting with the cost of radio transmitters, weather-monitoring tools, PIT tags, scanners, measuring calibers, scales, digital cameras, and fuel costs, along with other materials needed to accomplish our research goals.

Due to their long life spans (50-70 years) and relatively small home ranges, Florida Box Turtles are an ideal species for long-term studies, allowing SCCF to collect over 20 years of data for conservation management plans. This data proved to be extremely valuable when in August 2019, SCCF, FWC, and USFWS released nearly 300 box turtles from a turtle poaching ring in Fort Myers. Among these poached box turtles were individuals from SCCF’s project, identified from their markings. These marked turtles were returned exactly back to where they were poached, thanks to the data collected from this project.

The development of natural habitats and the illegal collection of turtles for the international pet trade pose serious threats to the future survival of this species. All SCCF research turtles have internal microchips, notched shells, and are thoroughly photographed for identification purposes. This three-way identifying method also acts as a deterrent to poaching.

Adopt a Section of the Beach

Help keep our beaches sea turtle and shorebird friendly

Adopt a Beach

The Adopt-A-Beach program gives residents and visitors the opportunity to actively participate in protecting wildlife and conserving coastal resources on Sanibel and Captiva.

Please contact Kelly Sloan at ksloan@oldsccf.blackbaudwp.com to determine the cost of sponsoring your desired section of beach.

CLICK TO ADOPT A SECTION OF THE BEACH >>

In December, all participants receive:

Reports detailing the results of sea turtle and shorebird nests laid on the adopted beach, rare bird sightings, and the history of banded birds seen on the condo’s beachfront.
Certificates highlighting participation in the program, including the total number of nests protected.

As a participant in the Adopt-A-Beach Program, you should follow these sea turtle-friendly practices:

Comply with Dark Skies Ordinance regulations.
- Turn off or shield lights along the beach.
- If you must have light, use a red LED flashlight, adjust cell phone screens to dark mode, and turn off the flash on your camera.
Remain at a distance from nesting sea turtles and hatchlings. It is illegal to harm, harass, or take sea turtles, their eggs, and hatchlings.
Fill in holes along the beach at the end of the day.
Remove chairs, canopies, and other items from the beach at night.
Collect and remove garbage along the beach.
Correctly dispose of fishing lines

* Participating in the SCCF Sea Turtle Program’s Adopt-A-Beach campaign does not imply or convey property rights to the beach you are helping to protect during nesting season.

Wildlife Adoption Programs

Adopt a Sea Turtle Nest

Adopt a Shorebird

Adopt an Indigo Snake

Adopt a Sea Turtle

Adopt a Sea Turtle (Lifetime)

Adopt a Box Turtle

Adopt a Section of the Beach

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