Perdido Key Celebrates First Sea Turtle Hatch of the Season
Around 60% of all turtle hatchlings will be disoriented by land-based lights, which can cause them to wander away from the water. Hatchlings need to reach the water quickly to prevent dehydration, starvation, and the risk of predators. Disoriented hatchlings can also wander into dangerous areas, such as busy roads, garages, and swimming pools.
Permitted volunteers are trained in disoriented hatchling response and recovery. Dark beaches that have low to no light pollution are the best way to ensure hatchling turtles make it to the water where they belong.
Perdido Key is experiencing a near-record year with 12 nests. July remains a peak nesting month, with the majority of hatchings expected in August and September.
Every hatchling counts! Help protect nesting sea turtles as well as other coastal wildlife by remembering this when on the beach, during the day, or at night:
- Lights Out! Both hatchling and nesting turtles need dark beaches to find the water. Use a red flashlight on the beach at night, not your phone flashlight. Turn off beach-facing lights. Close your windows and keep your curtains shut to help ensure a dark beach.
- Leave Only Footprints! After a fun and relaxing day at the beach, make sure to take everything you brought with you home. Remove all furniture and toys from the beach, including hammocks, tents, canopies, chairs, toys and sports equipment.
- If You Dig It, Fill It! Large holes, trenches, and moats create a huge danger on the beach. People and animals can fall into these large holes, leading to deadly outcomes. Large holes are obstacles for hatchling and nesting sea turtles. Fill in your holes after digging them, and flatten sand castles when you leave.
If you see a nest hatching or encounter hatchling turtles on the beach, please stay a respectful distance away and call Escambia County Marine Resources at 850-281-5904.
For more information about sea turtles in Escambia County, visit MyEscambia.com/seaturtles. All sea turtle work performed by Escambia County was completed under Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission permits #032A, #202, #272, and #273.
