Do you know the regulations in the Leave Only Footprints program in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach? It’s pretty basic: Any structures or equipment left on the beach an hour after sunset will be removed and disposed of by beach patrols. That includes chairs, tents and toys. Regulations also prohibit tents larger than 10 feet by 10 feet, as well as fireworks, pets and glass bottles. You can’t go wrong if you just leave the beach a little better than [...]
We’ve probably all done it: throw a torn-off piece of bread into the air for sea gulls to swoop down and catch in their beaks. In fact, it’s kinda fun. Cheetos and crackers, too. But the next time you are tempted to feed the birds, don’t. Just don’t. There are reasons for this. First, it’s dangerous to someone holding out their hand to the sharp peck of a gull’s beak. Second, it makes these beautiful creatures become a nuisance. They [...]
Even though Independence Day is now past, we know shooting off bottle rockets and Roman candles during summer vacation is fun. We get it. But shooting fireworks on the beach can be dangerous. Fireworks are involved in about 10,000 injuries treated in U.S. hospitals each year, and about 7,000 of those occur in the four weeks surrounding the Fourth of July. Fireworks also leave behind a mess. Those little pieces of paper litter the beach after a night of exploding, [...]
Does it ever sound like the sand is squeaking when you take a walk on Alabama beaches? There’s a very scientific explanation for why that happens. Squeaking - or whistling - sand is heard when quartz sand is well-rounded and shaped in spheres, according to Scientific American magazine. “The frequency of the sound is related to the mean grain size and the amplitude is controlled by the surface texture of the grains,” according to the article. “The loudest squeaking observed [...]
Beach-goers, especially kids, love digging in the sand. They bring their buckets and plastic shovels and get to work. But the holes can cause problems. The most obvious one is that holes - of any size - left unattended can be a tripping hazard for anyone walking on the beach at night. For that reason, digging big holes (more than one-foot deep) is prohibited in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores. In addition, metal shovels are not allowed on beaches in [...]
We want everyone who visits our Alabama beaches to be safe and healthy. It’s not hard, but it does take planning ahead. Here is a rundown of safety concerns and how to prepare yourself and your family. Avoid heat exhaustion or heatstroke. Any time you have hot temperatures like we do on the Alabama coast, there is a potential for heatstroke. To avoid the risk at the beach, drink plenty of liquids that are not alcoholic, like water or juice. [...]
Do you ever wonder what’s the big deal about sea turtle nesting season on the Alabama coast? The more you learn about these creatures, the more fascinating they become. And you’ll want to do your part to keep our sea turtle hatchlings safe. Each year, thousands of endangered sea turtles make their way to our state’s shores. The species we see most often on Alabama beaches are loggerheads, known for their large heads and blunt, powerful jaws. But other species [...]
A day may be sunny and the water beautiful, but high surf and/or strong currents can create a dangerous time to go into the Gulf of Mexico. When you visit the beach, you don’t want to take unnecessary risks. Yes, playing in those big waves can be fun, but be aware of the warnings. Take a few moments to learn about each color of the flag warning system. A yellow flag indicates a medium hazard. Proceed, but with caution. A [...]
How much do you know about the Share the Beach program? While thousands of families converge on our beautiful beaches each year for their summer vacation, so do thousands of sea turtles. Starting in May, female sea turtles make their way hundreds of miles to our shores to lay eggs, which hatch between July and October. Once they hatch, the young sea turtles must make their way to the Gulf of Mexico. That’s when they need our help. Hatchlings are [...]
If you’re out and about on the beach, you may run into someone who shares the rules of the beach. Don’t be alarmed. There’s a good chance you are meeting a member of the city’s beach patrol. Lisa Graham of Orange Beach has been involved with the Leave Only Footprints beach patrol program since its inception in July 2015. She had patrolled the beach for 15 years as a Share The Beach sea turtle volunteer, and in that capacity she witnessed local [...]
