Turtle Season in Florida - Lights Out!

Sea Turtle Season is upon us!! 

From May 1 through October 31. 

Nesting turtles in Florida consist of 4 species: Loggerheads, Green Sea Turtle, Leatherbacks, and Kemp’s Ridleys. These sea turtles are endangered and therefore protected along the Florida Atlantic coast.

Female sea turtles will emerge from the surf at night and crawl up onto sandy beaches towards the dunes to dig a deep hole in the dry sand to lay their eggs in May through October each year. 

The eggs are then covered with sand and the adult turtle returns to the sea. An average nest contains 100 eggs! One female will lay three to five nests each nesting season. About two months later, hatchlings (baby turtles), emerge from the nests and crawl to the ocean on their own.

Here is general information about turtles in Volusia County. 

Lights Out – Why?

Bright lights can disorient and confuse sea turtles on the beach. Females choose dark beaches lit only by the moonlight to lay their nests. As hatchlings emerge from their nests, they orient themselves toward the water using the dark silhouette of the natural sand dunes behind them and the openness of the lighter horizon over the water in front of them.

Therefore, you must keep the blinds closed at night and turn off the balcony lights – this goes for the east, north, and south sides of any buildings on the beach. Stiff fines of up to $5,000.00 per day can be issued for failure to comply.

"No Source of Light, nor reflection of light, shall illuminate the beach, and the source of light, nor the reflection of light shall be visible by a person who is in a standing position on the beach."

How to achieve this effectively can be found HERE. 

Protect the Turtles

Aside from shielding your lights, you can help protect the turtles in the following ways:

Do not disturb a female on land – she is only there to make a nest and lay eggs – do not hover around her.

Do not touch, pick up, or in any other way interfere with turtle hatchlings as they make their way to the ocean. They are extremely vulnerable.

Become a “washback watcher” and volunteer in various ways to protect sea turtles and their environment. Find your information here!

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Creative Florida Living 

Janet Sells

Turtle Season

Whether you live in the greater Daytona Beach Area year round, you are seasonal visitor, or you are relocating, you can enjoy the proximity to nature, wildlife, and water! One element of our beautiful wildlife is the majestic sea turtle. 

From May 15 through October 31, our area beaches host this unusual marine visitor. These magnificent turtles emerge from the surf at night to lay their eggs in nests dug into the dry sand, then return to the sea. Two months later, about a hundred baby turtles (hatchlings) emerge from each of these nests and crawl to the ocean. This amazing cycle of Mother Nature is endangered and has to be protected. 

Our government has taken several steps to preserve these gentle creatures and the fragile dune area. Beach driving and parking is prohibited west of an established dune conservation zone and beachfront lighting at night is limited. The tiny hatchlings can be confused by bright lights and stray west onto busy Highway A1A. So if your house or condo faces the beach, you must have blackout drapes drawn at night during turtle season.

Be kind and don't disturb a turtle that is crawling to or from the ocean or laying eggs. 

Watch from a distance of at least 30 feet.

• Avoid shining lights on the beach at night as this may frighten away nesting females and, interfere with the hatchlings ability to find the sea.

• Avoid walking or cycling in nesting areas

• Report any injured or dead sea turtles to any Volusia County Beach Services employee.

           

• Do not disturb markers or protective screening over turtle nests. These nests are being studied and protected.

• Avoid walking on the beach dunes.

• Don't disturb nesting sea birds.

• Don't litter. Cigarette butts, fishing line and other trash can harm the animals and birds along the beach.

To find out more, read about the Marine Science Center here and visit their website here!

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Creative Florida Living 

Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet

Alicia Keenon Photography

Ponce Inlet is one of the beautiful treasures of our Daytona Beach Area. There is, of course, the lighthouse, the lighthouse museum, the park, the jetty, and – the Marine Science Center!

The Marine Science Center plays an important role in rehabilitating, preserving and rescuing sea turtles, as well as other water animals, including mammals and birds. Since opening in 2002, Marine Science Center has cared for nearly 900 juvenile and adult sea turtles; more than 15,000 hatchlings and washbacks; and nearly 1,000 gopher tortoises, freshwater turtles and snakes. 

There are lots of fun and educational activities for children, which adults will also enjoy. For a very minimal entrance fee, you can visit the exhibit gallery that tells you all about flora, fauna, and habitats of our area. There are stingray petting tanks, the turtle rehab center, a nature walk, a bird observation tower, a variety of nature displays, and a very nifty gift shop.

Next time you are in Ponce Inlet or are showing your out-of-town guests around, visit the Marine Science Center for an educational good time for a mere $5 ($4 for seniors). Check out their website and activities here: Marine Science Center