Turtles making a comeback?

One type of sea turtle that migrates to south Florida to nest is making great strides this summer.

Folks at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach say they cannot remember the last time they have seen so many leatherback sea turtle nests.

The latest count shows close to 12-hundred leatherback nests in a 6-mile stretch of beach in Juno Beach and Jupiter.

That's about 100 more nests than at this same time last year. "It's terrific, fantastic. It's wonderful. Again, you know if people can share in the enthusiasm but also keep their distance from the leatherbacks, that's the best for everyone," said Nanette Lawrenson, Executive Director of the Loggerhead Marinelife Center.

She said they simply don't have an explanation for why there are so many leatherback nests this summer. The nesting season runs from March through October.

The leatherback is critically endangered.

It is a crime to disturb or touch a sea turtle that has come ashore to lay eggs.