Sea turtle nesting season starts May 1. What you need to know.

Katie Kustura, The Daytona Beach News-Journal
·2 min read

About this time every year, herpetologists and fans of sea turtles work to remind beachgoers of the human-related obstacles these sea creatures face.

The reason? Sea turtle nesting season is upon us.

Running generally from May through October, hundreds of sea turtles will leave the Atlantic Ocean surf to lay eggs in the sand of Volusia and Flagler counties.

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Whitney, a loggerhead sea turtle, draws a crowd in Ponce Inlet as she heads toward the ocean in this archive photo. Nesting season begins May 1, and beachgoers should contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission if they spot a turtle in need.
Whitney, a loggerhead sea turtle, draws a crowd in Ponce Inlet as she heads toward the ocean in this archive photo. Nesting season begins May 1, and beachgoers should contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission if they spot a turtle in need.

Here's how beachgoers can lessen their impact as the season approaches.

Leave no trace

  • Knock down sandcastles and/or sculptures and fill in holes

  • Remove all beach accessories (chairs, umbrellas, tents, toys)

  • Clean up food and any additional trash

Why it matters: Disturbed sand and beach accessories create obstacles to both nesting mother turtles and hatchlings who may get stuck if they fall into a hole.

Leaving food and other garbage behind may draw raccoons and other egg-eating critters to the area. Raccoons, according to the nonprofit Sea Turtle Conservancy, "destroy thousands of sea turtle eggs each year and are one of the greatest causes of sea turtle mortality on Florida's beaches."

Yellow wooden stakes mark sea turtle nests on the Canaveral National Seashore beach in this photo from Aug. 21, 2019.
Yellow wooden stakes mark sea turtle nests on the Canaveral National Seashore beach in this photo from Aug. 21, 2019.

Keep it quiet and dark

  • Shield or turn off artificial lights visible from the beach

  • Retrofit lights with wildlife-friendly amber-, orange-, or red-colored bulbs

  • Don't light bonfires or fireworks

Why it matters: Bright lights and loud noises can bother nesting turtles. Hatchlings can also confuse artificial lighting for the horizon and crawl in the wrong direction.

Installing or retrofitting beachside lighting? Follow the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's recommendation of "low-shielded-long."

FWC:Lighting guidelines around sea turtles

  • Low: Mount lighting fixtures as low as possible; use low wattage/lumens

  • Shielded: Point fixtures downward; shield bulb from beach

  • Long: Use lights with long wavelengths (amber-, orange-, or red-colored bulbs)

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: How beachgoers can lessen their impact on sea turtle nesting season