Bay and Walton Counties in Florida are fortunate to have sea turtles return to nest on their beaches. The nesting season typically occurs between March and October. Survival is an uphill battle for many threatened and endangered sea turtle species. On average, about one in 1,000 sea turtle hatchlings survive to adulthood. The explosion of new home builds in our area poses a threat to the protected species of green turtles and loggerheads that reside along the 30A beaches by reducing the turtle nesting habitat, increasing high-traffic areas, and the use of artificial lights that will steer them off course.
Here are some best practice guidelines:
What should I do if I see a nest with eggs in it?
Sea turtle nests are protected by state and federal laws. Do not touch a nest on the beach. You can contact South Walton Turtle Watch at 850-865-4503 or call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Division of Law Enforcement at 1-888-404-FWCC.
What should I do if I see a sea turtle laying eggs or nesting?
Keep your distance, do not touch her, and remain quiet. Do not approach her, and do not use any lights or photography. You do not want to startle her and interrupt this process.
If I encounter a hatchling that is struggling to get out of the nest, should I help it?
Do not touch or help the hatchling. It is against state and federal law to remove the hatchling from its natural environment. Turtle hatchlings all dig out of their nest, usually at night, and head directly for the sea.
Who should I contact if I see an injured or stranded sea turtle or hatchling?
Call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Division of Law Enforcement at 1-888-404-FWCC or *FWC from your cell phone.
How should I leave the beach at the end of the day?
Clean, dark, and flat. This means picking up all trash and filling the holes you dug in the sand. At night, avoid flashlights on the beach. A home with lighting visible from the beach should point the fixture down, use the lowest possible wattage, and use an amber wavelength (560 nm or greater).
There are plenty of ways you can help sea turtles all year long, on and off the beach. These include minimizing single-use plastics, participating in beach cleanup efforts, respecting nesting areas and reefs, properly disposing of fishing gear, educating yourself about reducing light pollution, supporting conservation organizations, and advocating for effective policy changes.
Let's work together to preserve our beach habitat for generations!
Rhea Ross
Honesty Guard Homewatch
email: info@honestyguard.com
phone: (850)714-2756
The following sites are referenced: Florida Atlantic University, South Walton Turtle Watch, Florida Fish and Wildlife
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