1- Close Blinds or Turn Off Lights at Night
If you are beachfront, turn off, shield, or redirect your lights away from the beach. Close blinds and draperies in oceanfront rooms at night to keep indoor lighting. Hatchlings confuse the light for the moonlight and go the wrong way.
2- Fill in Your Holes and Destroy Sandcastles
Moats, sandcastles, holes and similar sand constructions can present obstacles to nesting sea turtles and hatchlings. Please knock them down or fill them in before you leave the beach. If you notice someone forgot to do so on your sunset walk, please take the time to level or fill in the forgotten structure.
3- Don’t Leave Trash, Beach Chairs, Umbrellas & Such on Beach
You’ve seen the signs- ‘take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints.’ These left behind items can deter nesting attempts and prevent hatchlings from reaching the ocean. Take it with you when you leave.
4- Leave Nesting Turtles & Hatchlings Alone
If you encounter a turtle on the beach at night, remain quiet, still and at a distance. Flash photography and human disturbance may prevent her from nesting successfully. Leave the tracks left by turtles undisturbed. Researchers use the tracks to identify the species of turtle that nested and to find and mark the nests for protection. If you encounter a sea turtle nest or hatchlings, leave the eggs and baby turtles alone.*
5- Donate or Volunteer
The Clearwater Marine Aquarium monitors the beaches from Clearwater Beach through Indian Shores. Sand to Sea Inc. monitors the beaches from Redington Shores through Treasure Island, and Sea Turtle Trackers monitors the beaches of St Pete Beach, Shell Key and Outback Key. Contact your local monitoring organization to learn more about how you can become involved or donate.
*Text taken from the US Fish & Wildlife Services. Read more here.