Protecting sea turtles over the holiday weekend
Independence Day is upon us, and while most people associate barbeques and fireworks with the holiday, it also marks the beginning of sea turtle hatching season.
July is the busiest month for sea turtles on Sanibel and Captiva. Adult females are still coming ashore to nest and the nests that have been incubating for the last two months begin to hatch. This makes the beach a busy place at night.
If you visit the beach, especially at night, we ask that you keep a few things in mind to keep our beaches sea turtle friendly:
Remove all beach furniture, tents and toys
Fill in all holes that you dig
Turn off or shield all lights facing the beach
Avoid using a flashlight
Never take flash photographs
Honor the leash law
Respect all marked sea turtle nests
If you happen to see a sea turtle, keep a respectful distance and watch quietly. It is a rare experience and one to be treasured.