SEA TURTLES
Five different sea turtle species, either threatened or endangered, are found in Florida's waters and nesting on its beaches. These highly migratory animals depend on coastal waters for foraging, migration, and breeding during different life stages. Florida's beaches provide crucial nesting grounds for globally important subpopulations, including Northwest Atlantic loggerheads. The quality of Florida's beaches to attract nesting turtles and produce fit hatchlings plays an important role in population trends.

From April through October, Sanibel and Captiva shores provide important nesting habitat for loggerheads, greens, and in rare instances, leatherbacks and Kemp's ridleys. These turtles face numerous threats throughout their lives and are at great risk while on the beach. Give nesting turtles and hatchlings a greater chance of survival by following a few simple tips.
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KEEP OUR BEACHES SAFE FOR SEA TURTLES

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Lights out. Lights from flashlights and beachfront houses can disorient sea turtles on our beaches. See below for beach lighting guidelines.

Fill in holes. Sea turtles, especially hatchlings due to their size, can become trapped in holes dug in the sand.

Don’t disturb nesting turtles. Never get too close to, touch, shine lights on, or take flash photos of nesting sea turtles.

Remove obstacles from the sand. Sea turtles can’t move in reverse, so it’s important to flatten sandcastles and remove all chairs, tents, gear, and toys from the beach at the end of the day.

Properly dispose of trash. Not only does litter attract predators, but sea turtles can ingest or become entangled by discarded trash and fishing line.

Don’t disturb screens. The protective nest screens prevent predators from eating the eggs and allow hatchlings to emerge through the holes without assistance.

Call for help. Report any issues with nests, nesting turtles, or hatchlings, by calling our Sea Turtle Hotline at 978-728-3663 (978-SAVE-ONE).
Lights out. Lights from flashlights and beachfront houses can disorient sea turtles on our beaches. See below for beach lighting guidelines.

Fill in holes. Sea turtles, especially hatchlings due to their size, can become trapped in holes dug in the sand.

Don’t disturb nesting turtles. Never get too close to, touch, shine lights on, or take flash photos of nesting sea turtles.

Remove obstacles from the sand. Sea turtles can’t move in reverse, so it’s important to flatten sandcastles and remove all chairs, tents, gear, and toys from the beach at the end of the day.

Properly dispose of trash. Not only does litter attract predators, but sea turtles can ingest or become entangled by discarded trash and fishing line.

Don’t disturb screens. The protective nest screens prevent predators from eating the eggs and allow hatchlings to emerge through the holes without assistance.

Call for help. Report any issues with nests, nesting turtles, or hatchlings, by calling our Sea Turtle Hotline at 978-728-3663 (978-SAVE-ONE).
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LIGHTS OUT FROM APRIL THROUGH OCTOBER

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Nesting sea turtles and hatchlings find their way back to the sea by instinctually traveling away from the dark silhouettes of the dune vegetation and toward the light from the moon and stars reflecting off the water. Artificial lights cause nesting females and hatchlings to become disoriented and crawl in the wrong direction. Most hatchlings that wander inland will die of exhaustion, dehydration, traffic on nearby roads, or predation. Artificial lights can also discourage females from nesting, causing them to abandon the process or choose a less optimal nesting site.

  • Turn out all lights visible from the beach from dusk to dawn.
  • Turn off all outdoor and deck lighting.
  • Close blinds and drapes on windows that face the beach or Gulf. Unshielded interior lighting, even from just a single residence, is enough to disrupt the normal sea-finding behavior of sea turtles.
  • Never shine lights on a sea turtle or take flash photography.
  • If necessary, use only approved amber or red LED bulbs.
SEE TURTLE-SAFE LIGHTING
Nesting sea turtles and hatchlings find their way back to the sea by instinctually traveling away from the dark silhouettes of the dune vegetation and toward the light from the moon and stars reflecting off the water. Artificial lights cause nesting females and hatchlings to become disoriented and crawl in the wrong direction. Most hatchlings that wander inland will die of exhaustion, dehydration, traffic on nearby roads, or predation. Artificial lights can also discourage females from nesting, causing them to abandon the process or choose a less optimal nesting site.

  • Turn out all lights visible from the beach from dusk to dawn.
  • Turn off all outdoor and deck lighting.
  • Close blinds and drapes on windows that face the beach or Gulf. Unshielded interior lighting, even from just a single residence, is enough to disrupt the normal sea-finding behavior of sea turtles.
  • Never shine lights on a sea turtle or take flash photography.
  • If necessary, use only approved amber or red LED bulbs.
SEE TURTLE-SAFE LIGHTING
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WHEN TO CALL OUR SEA TURTLE HOTLINE

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Please call to report any of the following concerns:

  • Stranded sea turtles or hatchlings (live, injured, or dead)
  • Nests that have been tampered with
  • Eggs that have been dug up
  • Exposed eggs or nests being washed away
  • Unmarked nests you believe our sea turtle monitoring teams have missed (teams begin at sunrise and cover varying length sections of the beach)
  • Daytime hatching
  • Issues with beachfront lighting, holes dug on the beach, or beach furniture/unused equipment remaining on the beach from 9:00pm to 7:00am
CALL 978-SAVE-ONE
Please call to report any of the following concerns:

  • Stranded sea turtles or hatchlings (live, injured, or dead)
  • Nests that have been tampered with
  • Eggs that have been dug up
  • Exposed eggs or nests being washed away
  • Unmarked nests you believe our sea turtle monitoring teams have missed (teams begin at sunrise and cover varying length sections of the beach)
  • Daytime hatching
  • Issues with beachfront lighting, holes dug on the beach, or beach furniture/unused equipment remaining on the beach from 9:00pm to 7:00am
CALL 978-SAVE-ONE
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