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Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
(Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.) May 23, 2023 Photos available 
Suggested Tweet: Share the beach with nesting #SeaTurtles this holiday weekend:
give them space, keep lights out & stash trash.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLFFWCC/bulletins/35c133b #Florida 
sea turtle on beach
Share the beach with sea turtles this holiday weekend This World Turtle Day, the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission (FWC) reminds the public that as we enjoy our beaches this Memorial Day
weekend, everyone can help sea turtles have a successful nesting season by giving them space, removing
beach furniture at night, keeping beaches clean and dark, and never disturbing their nests.

Florida’s sandy beaches provide important spring and summer nesting habitat for several species of
federally threatened and endangered sea turtles, including loggerhead, leatherback and green sea turtles,
with occasional nesting by federally endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles.

Getting too close (50 feet or less) to nesting sea turtles can cause them to leave the beach before they
complete nesting. All species of sea turtles and their nests are protected and should not be disturbed —
it is illegal to harm, harass or take nesting sea turtles, their eggs and hatchlings.

In addition to giving space to sea turtles and their nests, beachgoers can help with sea turtle nesting
success every time they visit the shore:
-Clear the way at the end of the day! Properly dispose of all trash, fill in human-made holes in the sand,
and remove all beach toys and furniture from the beach before sunset. Obstacles on the beach can prevent
sea turtles from nesting. Trash and other obstacles can also prevent sea turtle hatchlings from reaching the
water once they emerge from their nests. Food scraps attract predators, such as raccoons and crows, that can
prey on sea turtle hatchlings, as well as shorebird eggs and chicks. Litter on beaches can entangle sea turtles,
birds and other wildlife.

-Lights out! Turn off lights or close curtains after dark to ensure nesting turtles are not disturbed or disoriented
as they come ashore and hatchlings will not become disoriented when they emerge from their nests. Make sure
exterior lighting adjacent to nesting beaches is long, low and shielded. Avoid using flashlights or cell phone
lights and taking flash photos after dark on the beach.

For more information about nesting sea turtles and how you can help, visit MyFWC.com/SeaTurtle
or see the FWC’s “Be a Beach Hero” brochure. You can also help sea turtles by reporting anyone
disturbing a sea turtle or nest, as well as sea turtles that are sick, injured, entangled or dead to
the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Logo
QUESTIONS? Contact the FWC STAY CONNECTED:
Communications Cloud on behalf of: Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission · 620 S. Meridian Street · Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600 · (850) 488-4676 GovDelivery logo
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