Share the Beach with Sea Turtles

Franklin County's oldest residents are once again returning to area beaches to procreate.
Sadly, all of the sea turtles that nest in the county are either threatened or in danger of becoming extinct. The decline in population mainly stems from human impacts. Protection of sea turtle nesting habitat, our beaches, is essential to their continued survival.
Sea turtles must come ashore to lay eggs - just as they have done for millions of years. What has changed? People have arrived to use these same beaches for recreation. Although the negative impacts for sea turtles are many there are some things we can do on our beaches to share this habitat with our sea turtles:
In order to avoid disrupting the nesting sea turtles we suggest the following:
• Keep exterior lights out and shades drawn between dusk and dawn.
• Avoid disturbing a turtle that is crawling to or from the ocean.
• Avoid shining lights on a sea turtle or snapping flash photos. Regular flashlights can disturb sea turtles.
• Avoid other nighttime activities, such as bonfires, fireworks, etc. that might prevent sea turtles from coming ashore.
• Take in beach chairs, tents and toys at night, so a sea turtle won't get tangled in them.
• Fill in any holes you dig on the beach.
• If you are lucky enough to see a turtle; sit quietly in the dark, at quite a distance, to watch her nest.
• Our sea turtle nests are marked for protection. Stay well away from these areas and keep your pets well away as well.
• Discourage others from harassing any sea turtle or a nest.
• Pick up all plastic bags, Styrofoam pieces, balloons, or floatable debris and place it in a trash receptacle.
• Contact Bruce Drye 927-2103 or 1-888-404-3922 if you see a sea turtle on the beach or stranded, or anyone harassing a sea turtle.
• Go to the St George Island Visitors Center and see the sea turtle display and pick-up a free turtle cover for your flashlight.
• For more information on sea turtles go to www.seaturtlesatrisk.org for local information as well as links to other informative websites
• Go to a "turtle talk" and learn more. Talks are being offered at no cost this season at the St. George Island Volunteer Fire Department, upstairs at the East Pine St. fire station, on Tuesday, July 9, 16, 23, and 30, at 2:30 p.m.
Sea Turtles at Risk, Inc. offers free lighting evaluations and assistance with "sea turtle friendly" lighting to homeowners in need of this service. To find out more see our website www.seaturtlesatrisk.org or call Bruce Hall 850-653-3820.