Sea Turtle Nesting Season Officially Begins May 1st

Sea turtle nesting season takes place from May 1-Oct. 31 on Southwest Florida beaches. On nesting beaches, light from waterfront properties can disorient nesting female turtles and their young, which emerge at night and use dim natural light to find the sea. Also, beach furniture, trash and other obstacles can impede sea turtles and their young. See the tips below for how you can help keeping nesting seaturtles & hatchlings safe.

On the beach

Here are some “do and don’t” tips to keep our beaches turtle-friendly:

• DO stay away from sea turtle nests marked with yellow stakes and tape, and seabird nesting zones that are bounded by ropes.
• DO remain quiet and observe from a distance if you encounter a nesting sea turtle or hatchlings.
• DO shield or turn off outdoor lights that are visible on the beach from May through October.
• DO close drapes after dark and stack beach furniture at the dune line or, ideally, remove it from the beach
• DO fill in holes that may entrap hatchlings on their way to the water.
• DON’T approach nesting turtles or hatchlings, make noise, or shine lights at turtles.
• DON’T use flashlights, head lamps or fishing lamps on the beach.
• DON’T encourage a turtle to move while nesting or pick up hatchlings that have emerged and are heading for the water.
• DON’T use fireworks on the beach.
• DON’T walk dogs on any Sarasota County beach other than Brohard Paw Park in Venice. There, dogs must be leashed or under voice control, according to county ordinances.

On the water

• Follow Coast Guard-approved safe boating guidelines and use vigilance to avoid striking sea turtles and other large marine life.
• Be sure to stow trash and line when under way. Marine debris that accidentally blows overboard or out of a truck can become ingested by or entangled around marine life.
• Wear polarized sunglasses to better see marine life in your path.

Dos & Don’ts courtesy of MOTE Marine Lab & Aquarium. Learn more about what MOTE does in our community at https://mote.org/.

Report stranded sea turtles and marine mammals

If you come across a sea turtle in need of help, please call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) at (888) 404-3922 or Clearwater Marine Aquarium at (727) 441-1790, extension 1. To report fishing violations and injured or dead marine mammals and sea turtles, please contact the FWC at (888) 404-3922.