You know about the Alabama sea turtles, right? The females make their way hundreds of miles each year to the beach where they hatched so that they can lay their own eggs in the same nesting spot.

From May through October, these creatures become our neighbors. And they are very vulnerable ones. When the eggs hatch, the hatchlings follow the light to the warm Gulf of Mexico waters to begin their own trek. But beach lighting, such as parking lot lights and porch/deck lights, can distract them and get them off track. They also follow previous tracks left by other hatchlings, so it’s important to leave those tracks intact.

The nests need to be left alone so that they make it through the entire incubation period, which can last a couple of months. If you see a nest, call 866-Sea-Turtle to report it.

Those are just some of the ways to ensure that stretch of sand you enjoy is friendly to these miraculous creatures. 

Another way they stay protected is through the support of hundreds of volunteers who gear up each season for Share the Beach activities. Volunteers assist our temporary residents in making the perilous journey to the water. But there’s much more to the Share the Beach program than being onsite during a hatching.

The Share the Beach program was formed in 2005 by the Friends of the Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Each year, the volunteer group also patrols the beach, educates the public and school groups, holds late-night nest observations, and assists with supply and equipment preparations.

Though the group follows protocols set by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, it does not receive federal funding. Your donations can help this effort. 

Please take steps to keep our beaches sea-turtle friendly. We want all of our natural wildlife to be there for future generations.