Scientists at Mote Marine Laboratory say there are now four reported leatherback sea turtle nests in Sarasota County.

The first two were found by turtle patrols earlier this summer. One was in Venice, another in Sarasota. This week, scientists found two others from Casey Key north to Sarasota.

The exact sites for the nests are not being made public to protect them from harm.

Officials at Mote say there could be as many as 80 fertilized eggs and 30 smaller, unfertilized eggs in each nest. The eggs take about 50 to 80 days to hatch.