This article contains tips and suggestions for what you should do
if you encounter a sea turtle nesting on a beach.
Summer is a busy time for Florida beaches with both people and
sea turtles sharing the sand. Though turtle nesting and hatching
usually happens in the middle of the night, it is very possible for
humans to cross paths with nesting females or hatchlings on their
way to the sea.
Should this happen to you, it is important to stay out of the
sea turtle's way. Don't put your hands on or near the turtle. Any
distractions may frighten or disorient them, causing a female to
return to the ocean before finishing her nest, or misdirecting a
hatchling away from the water.
Light can also cause a major disruption in the natural behavior
of the turtles. Don't use any flashlights, flash photography, or
video equipment. This can cause a female to false crawl or lead a
hatchling away from the water.
Hatchlings must overcome many obstacles in their natural habitat
to successfully reach adulthood. After hatching, they must dig out
of their nest, a process that may take a few days. Once out,
predators feed on them, and any misdirection may leave them lost
and, soon, dehydrated by the morning sun. Enjoy the experience from
a distance. Don't make it any more difficult for sea turtles to
survive.
If you come across a sea turtle that is stranded or dead; a
hatchling that is wandering in a road, parking lot; or directions
other than the water; or if you see someone disturbing a nest or
turtle, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
(FWC) Division of Law Enforcement at 1-888-404-FWCC or *FWC from
your cell phone.
Unless noted otherwise, all photographs are
credited to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
(FWC), Florida Sea Turtle Salvage and Stranding Network
(FLSTSSN).
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