The summer beach season will be winding down soon, but sea turtle nesting season is only halfway through! Along the Alabama Gulf Coast, sea turtle nesting season runs from May through November. If you’re planning a fall beach vacation in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, keep reading to learn six ways you can help protect these endangered animals during their own visit to Alabama’s beaches.

  1. Do not disturb nests.

You might come upon a nest that has been roped off by Share the Beach volunteers during your visit. That means there are likely approximately 100 turtle eggs waiting to hatch before returning to the Gulf of Mexico. Do NOT disturb the nest or touch any sea turtle making its way to the water. If you encounter an unmarked nest on the beach, call 866-SEA-TURTLE.

  1. Report a stranded sea turtle.

If you encounter a sea turtle that is injured or stuck on the beach, report a sea turtle emergency by calling 866-SEA-TURTLE.

  1. Pick up trash.

It goes without saying that you should never leave trash of any kind on the beach. If you do encounter trash on the sand, please pick it up and dispose of it, as it can be a hazard to adult or baby sea turtles (and other creatures) on the beach or in the gulf.

  1. Don’t leave anything on the beach.

One of the many reasons it’s crucial that we leave only footprints on the beach is because our beach gear can interfere with the nesting process. A mother turtle might get stuck on the beach or a baby turtle might not be able to make it to the gulf waters after hatching.

  1. Refrain from using flashlights or flash photography on the beach at night.

Nesting female sea turtles are looking for a quiet, dark place to lay their eggs. Lights and loud noises can make this extremely difficult, even reducing survival chances of both the mother and her hatchlings. When baby turtles hatch, they are drawn toward bright lights, an instinct that previously led them to the water. With increasing industrialization, there is now a danger of being drawn toward condos and highways. You might notice red lights along the beach during your visit – these are turtle-safe lights used to minimize distractions.

  1. Volunteer

If you live in our beach area, you can become a Share the Beach volunteer! Join a team devoted to finding and protecting nests, assisting in the hatching process, educating beachgoers and more.

Learn about other ways you can care for our coastline during your visit to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.