Time of the Turtle

An action-packed, empathetic ode to the sea turtle by legendary naturalist Jack Rudloe, newly available in this Florida Edition with a foreword by Jack E. Davis

When Time of the Turtle was first published in 1979, sea turtle populations were struggling from decades of overharvesting and urban development. Jack Rudloe, a naturalist and researcher who worked with sea turtles along the shores of North, Central, and South America, introduced the world to the wonders of these ancient mariners.

This book follows the hundred-million-year saga of sea turtles as they survived mass extinctions, shifting continents, and dramatic climate change. It brings readers up close to nesting beaches and offshore migrations of the mid-twentieth century where Rudloe witnessed turtles overcoming the threats of nature while also facing human predators. Scenes from rescue centers, research vessels, fisheries, and international conservation programs fill these pages as Rudloe blends science, field experience, and vivid storytelling to create an unforgettable portrait of a fascinating creature.

With a foreword by historian Jack E. Davis and supplementary material from ecologist Matthew Kopka, including an important new interview with Rudloe that features an account of the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill and threats facing Florida’s coast today, this edition of Time of the Turtle makes this influential classic available to new readers. A work of both natural history and literary merit, it continues to encourage interest in sea turtles and the people working to understand and protect them.