SANIBEL, Fla. — The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation is working to protect local sea turtle nests.

Volunteers at SCCF are installing new protective cages on Sanibel and Captiva Islands to protect vulnerable nest from predation.

The organization says they install the cages by digging one foot into the sand around the egg chambers and carefully place the cage over the top.

SCCF reports the current nesting numbers for Sanibel and Captiva Islands:

• 1,162 Loggerhead nest
• 24 Green Sea Turtle nests
• 15,955 total emerged hatchlings