Hurricane Matthew didn't just destroy homes and businesses as it moved up Florida's east coast last week.
- About 750 sea turtle nests were lost because of Hurricane Matthew
- The official sea turtle nesting season ends Oct. 31
An estimated 750 sea turtle nests along the Brevard County coastline — from south of Patrick Air Force base to Sebastian Inlet — were lost to erosion during the storm and the rough surf that continues to hit the beaches.
A rough estimate of 17,200 loggerhead sea turtles; 1,450 green sea turtles; 55 leatherback sea turtles and 1 Kemp's ridley sea turtle have already hatched this season. The official nesting season ends Oct. 31.
Before Hurricane Matthew approached Florida, the Marine Turtle Research Group had marked 46 nests as part of its sub-sampling that it does on the beach. After the storm, the group discovered 44 nests were washed away.
In total, the group estimates 200 loggerhead sea turtles and 550 green sea turtles were lost because of erosion.
Erosion into the dunes is up to about 8 feet, and more is possible. But the group said none of the dunes were breached.