It’s the height of sea turtle nesting season here on the northern Gulf Coast. As vacationers flock to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach each summer, thousands of endangered sea turtles are hatching on those same beaches.
Did you know that what you do on the beach each day can make a difference to the nesting turtles and the babies?
Below are a few guidelines to help these amazing creatures survive.
- If you dig a hole, fill it in before you leave. Digging large holes is prohibited on the beach.
- Remove everything from the beach each evening. Females will turn around if they find obstacles.
- No flash photography or white lights on the beach at night. The moon guides the sea turtles, so other types and locations of white lights can confuse them. Turn off outside lights when you don’t need them.
- Don’t disturb any sea turtle nest. It is a federal offense.
- If you see an unmarked nest or a sea turtle, report it by calling 866-SEA-TURTLE.
Share the Beach volunteers patrol the beaches each morning and mark nests they find. If you are lucky enough to witness a hatching, please let the volunteers do their job by watching without being in the way. They are trained on the proper handling of the nests and babies.