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17 06, 2020

Be Dolphin SMART when you’re on the water

By |2020-06-17T14:48:56+00:00June 17th, 2020|Blog|0 Comments

We all know dolphins are smart, but have you heard of being Dolphin SMART?   Sometimes we humans get a little overexcited when we come into contact with wildlife. In our enthusiasm, we want to feed them, touch them, play with them and, without meaning to, harass them. Engaging in this type of behavior is harmful to wildlife and can disrupt their natural behaviors such as breeding, feeding, breathing, migration, nursing and sheltering. We mentioned dolphins are smart; when humans offer them food, they quickly learn begging behavior. Dolphins are hunters, [...]

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10 06, 2020

Leave no trace during Great Outdoors Month

By |2020-06-17T14:42:37+00:00June 10th, 2020|Blog|0 Comments

June has been named Great Outdoors Month, creating a monthlong celebration of the outdoors. It was designated to encourage everyone to “embrace the outdoor spirit of America and head outside into the natural world.” Here on the beautiful Alabama Gulf Coast, we’re jumping in with both feet.     There are many ways to celebrate the great outdoors, even if it’s simply taking a walk at a nearby park. One of the best places to do this is the white-sand beach of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Each year, our 32-mile Gulf of Mexico coastline entertains more than 5 million visitors from [...]

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3 06, 2020

Our sand dunes are more than just a pretty view

By |2020-06-17T14:31:51+00:00June 3rd, 2020|Blog|0 Comments

In September 2004, Hurricane Ivan pummeled our shoreline with 100-plus surface winds as a category three hurricane. In addition to strong winds, Ivan brought an eight-foot-plus storm surge. The wind and water erased the numerous dunes of our coastline and it has taken years for them to build back.   Each year as June 1 rolls around, our thoughts are on hurricane season and what needs to be done to protect our livelihoods. One of the ways we protect our homes and businesses that dot the coastline is a wall built by nature: the beautiful [...]

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28 05, 2020

It’s never too soon to learn to protect the environment 

By |2020-05-18T20:31:46+00:00May 28th, 2020|Blog|0 Comments

They say children are like sponges: They absorb everything. Have you set a good example for your kids and grandkids at the beach? Let’s teach our children to “Leave Only Footprints!”   We take care of our environment so future generations will also be able to enjoy the outdoors. But we also need to make sure the future generations know how to take care of our planet. It’s never too early to instill good habits and respect for our beautiful white-sand beaches.   How can you be a good role model?  Talk about the wildlife that [...]

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25 05, 2020

Beach safety: Understanding the flags on the beach 

By |2020-05-18T20:26:00+00:00May 25th, 2020|Blog|0 Comments

Green, yellow, red, purple, double red. Those are the flag colors you see flying along the Gulf of Mexico beaches in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores. The flags are there for your safety, but do you know what they mean?    Weather and wildlife conditions - locally and offshore - can cause dangerous situations at our beaches. It may be easy to recognize high surf and dangerous waves, but rip currents may not always be visible on top of the water. Conditions can change quickly, so always exercise caution, even on calm days.   Let’s take a look at our flags, one [...]

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22 05, 2020

Play it safe while enjoying our coastal waters 

By |2020-05-18T20:19:16+00:00May 22nd, 2020|Blog|0 Comments

The coastal cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are rich with back bays and waterways. Naturally, one of the best ways to explore them is by boat!   It’s easy to find a variety of cruises and personal watercraft rentals at most marinas. If you are a boat owner and want to bring your own, remember to check all the Alabama requirements ahead of time. You can find information on equipment, licenses, rules and regulations on the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency website.  One of the favorite [...]

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18 05, 2020

Sea turtle nesting season is here!  

By |2020-05-18T20:07:47+00:00May 18th, 2020|Blog|0 Comments

May brings one of our favorite seasons of the year: sea turtle nesting season! Each year, the endangered loggerhead, Kemp’s ridley and green sea turtles arrive on our beautiful white-sand beaches to dig nests and lay eggs.   The amazing part is what happens after the eggs are laid and the mama turtle returns to the Gulf of Mexico. That’s when hundreds of volunteers step in to help ensure the baby turtles find their way to the water. Alabama’s Share The Beach program enlists volunteers to patrol the beach and record each nest. The nests are marked and [...]

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22 04, 2020

What do flags on the beach mean? 

By |2020-04-01T17:54:20+00:00April 22nd, 2020|Blog|0 Comments

Before entering the water, it’s important to note what color flag is flying near the shore. The flags are there to alert us to the condition of the water. They inform us regarding whether it’s safe to swim, including warnings of marine pests. The United States Lifesaving Association and the International Lifesaving Federation developed a flag warning system to inform swimmers of water hazards. Below is the definition of each so you will know the meaning on your next beach trip.   Yellow Flag Meaning: Medium hazard  Moderate surf and/or currents [...]

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15 04, 2020

Sea turtle nesting season is May through October  

By |2020-04-01T17:28:26+00:00April 15th, 2020|Blog|0 Comments

Each year sea turtles return to our beaches to nest. After returning to the coast where they were born, the female sea turtles make their way onto the beach and dig a hole to lay their eggs. The two types of sea turtles that nest on the Alabama coast are the loggerhead, which can grow to 200 pounds and an average length of three feet, and the Kemp’s ridley that can grow to two feet and weigh 100 pounds. In 2019, a rare green sea turtle also nested in Orange Beach!    Since the establishment of the Leave Only Footprints program, both of their numbers continue [...]

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6 04, 2020

Teaching kids to Leave Only Footprints 

By |2020-04-01T16:42:56+00:00April 6th, 2020|Blog|0 Comments

Hundreds of thousands of sea turtles, whales and other marine mammals, as well as more than 1 million seabirds, die each year from ocean pollution, including ingestion of or entanglement in marine debris. Let’s teach our children by example how to stop being litterbugs and to Leave Only Footprints everywhere they go.   The Leave Only Footprints program exists to raise awareness and participation in green initiatives and Leave No Trace https://lnt.org/learn/7-principles behaviors among visitors and residents of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.   Our resources are precious. So to take this initiative a step further, we ask that you teach [...]

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