Pensacola Beach, Perdido Key celebrate first sea turtle hatches of season

From Staff Reports
·2 min read

Escambia County welcomed the first sea turtle hatches of the season on both Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key this week when more than 160 loggerhead hatchlings safely made their way to Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday.

This is the first of two nests on Perdido Key and the first of 13 on Pensacola Beach. While local numbers are lower than expected, the region overall is having a strong nesting year, county officials reported. A higher number of green and Kemp’s ridley nests are being reported alongside the more common loggerhead.

The full moon contributed to a near perfect hatch, as it guided hatchlings directly to the Gulf without disorientation by artificial light. Hatchlings use the reflected light of the moon and stars off the water to orient themselves toward the Gulf. However, even the dimmest of artificial lights can outshine these natural lights, officials say.

New concerns: Sea turtle monitors forced to stand by and watch as tides encroach upon vulnerable nests

In case you missed it: Five rescued sea turtles, including rare adult male loggerhead, released after rehab

Sixty percent of all hatchlings on county beaches will be disoriented by artificial light sources, making them easy targets for predators. Hatchlings that don’t reach the water quickly are also at higher risk of starvation, dehydration and death.

Help protect hatchling turtles

Remember these rules:

  • Lights Out! Both hatchlings and nesting turtles need dark beaches to find the Gulf of Mexico. Leave the flashlights and cell phones at home or use a red flashlight when on the beach at night. Turn off beach-facing lights and close windows and curtains to keep our beaches dark.

  • Leave Only Footprints! Keep our beaches flat and clean for turtles by removing all personal belongings at the end of each day, flattening sand castles and filling in holes!

  • Stow It, Don’t Throw it! Trash and food waste can entangle turtles and other wildlife and attract unwanted predators. Always dispose of trash in the proper receptacle and refrain from feeding wildlife.

Anyone who sees a nest hatching or encounter hatchlings turtles on the beach, should stay a respectful distance away and call Escambia County Marine Resources at 1-850-426-1257.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola Beach, Perdido Key see first sea turtle hatches of season