Pinellas: Sea Turtle Hatchlings In Danger

CLEARWATER, FL – When sea turtle season began in May, Pinellas County enacted ordinances to help females make it safely to their nests in the dunes and back to the gulf.

Now that those eggs are hatching, Pinellas County is reminding its residents and visitors that now sea turtles will be in danger if those rules aren’t followed through October.

Pinellas County has received reports that sea turtle hatchlings have been spotted on its beaches. However, the hatchlings have also been spotted in areas they can be in danger, such as busy roadways.

Most of Pinellas County’s beach communities have ordinances in place prohibiting lights that shines toward the beach during sea turtle nesting season, which ends Tuesday, Oct. 31. Female sea turtles generally nest from early May through August. The eggs typically take between 50 and 60 days to hatch.

During nesting season, residents and beach visitors are asked to:

• Turn off outside lights, draw drapes and avoid using flashlights or fishing lamps on the beach
• Do not pick up hatchlings heading toward the water, shine lights or use flash photography
• Do not approach or harass adult sea turtles as they make their way back to sea
• Remove obstacles such as sand castles or holes that may impede their way to the sea
• Remove trash items on the beach that may entangle hatchlings or adult turtles

The protective ordnances are put in place because the hatchlings instinctually to go toward the brightest light they see after emerging from their nests. Before the beaches were developed, this would have been the moonlit sea.

If the hatchlings are misled by artificial light from homes or businesses, they can become disoriented, move toward the shore and potentially be killed on roadways or other dangerous areas.

According to Pinellas County, 2016 was a record year for nests and events that impacted them. Pinellas beaches were host to 318 turtle nests with more than 13,000 hatchlings released into the ocean. Hurricanes Hermine and Matthew along with Tropical Storm Colin damaged and destroyed several nests last year as well.

If residents spot turtle tracks or what might be a nest, and it doesn’t appear to be protected by stakes or ribbon, call the Clearwater Marine Museum at (727) 441-1790 ext. 1.

Photography provided courtesy of Pinellas County Communications Department