It’s the start of a season that brings in a truly unique visitor. They don’t arrive in a car or on a plane – they swim right up to the shore. They’re sea turtles, and they’re part of what makes living in cities such as Siesta Key and Sarasota so amazing. While nesting season takes place from May 1st to October 31st, make sure to follow these rules so that you can coexist with sea turtles.
When sea turtles hatch from their nests, they follow the moon’s light
to make their way into the water. Science has shown that sea turtle
hatchlings often mistake artificial light sources such as flashlights or
street lamps for the light of the moon, and begin to stray towards it.
In doing so, they fail to make their way to the ocean. When you limit
your use of light sources near the water, you protect sea turtles and
ensure that they can thrive in their environment.
While nothing can beat a romantic stroll along the beach with the
stars and the moon shining above, reducing the amount of nighttime beach
walks that you take or staying only on the sidewalk by the beach
prevents you from potentially damaging any turtle nests. If you want to
see turtles hatching from their nest late at night, attending one of the
turtle walks with the many nature centers throughout the area is a
great solution. Not only do you get to witness a turtle laying its eggs
in a way that is noninvasive to the animal, you also get to enjoy
background context provided by biologists and turtle experts. Some of
these walks consist of finding and observing nests that have already
been laid while listening to an expert offer information and their
experience, while others allow you to observe a sea turtle laying its
eggs from a safe distance.
It goes without saying, but when you see a sea turtle nest, make sure to observe from a few yards away. Touching, holding, or playing with a sea turtle is never allowed. Doing the same with turtle eggs can damage them as well.
Source: Blvd Sarasota