CEPD addresses hurricane season and nesting turtles
The Captiva Erosion Prevention District recently provided the following information:
HURRICANE SEASON
The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season officially began June 1 and continues through Nov. 30.
The CEPD strongly advises all homeowners, business owners and visitors to have a hurricane plan. Though many are still recovering from Hurricane Ian, it is important to be as prepared as possible.
Below are some important resources regarding hurricanes and hurricane preparedness:
– Captiva Fire Department: http://captivafire.com/emergencies/
– NOAA Hurricane Preparedness: https://www.noaa.gov/hurricane-prep
– Red Cross Hurricane Preparedness: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/hurricane.html
– Preparedness Checklist: https://www.floridadisaster.org/planprepare/hurricane-supply-checklist/
– 2023 Hurricane Names: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutnames.shtml
SEA TURTLE NESTING
Sea turtle nesting season takes place annually from May until October.
To help make sure that the turtles have a successful nesting season, the CEPD asks that the public please take the following into consideration when visiting the island’s beaches:
– Turn off or shield all lights that are visible from the beach. Do not use flashlights or cell phone lights on the beach. If necessary, use amber or red LED bulbs.
– Do not disturb the screens covering nests. They prevent predators from eating the eggs and the hatchlings emerge through the holes without assistance.
– Remove all beach furniture and equipment from the beach at night.
– Dispose of fishing line properly to avoid wildlife entanglement.
– Fill in large holes that can trap hatchlings and nesting sea turtles.
– Do not disturb nesting turtles — please do not to get too close, shine lights on, or take flash photos of nesting sea turtles.
– Pick up litter.
To report issues with nests, nesting turtles or hatchlings, call the sea turtle hotline at 978-728-3663.
For more information about sea turtles and what is being done to protect them, visit the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation at https://www.sccf.org/our-work/sea-turtles. To symbolically adopt a sea turtle nest, visit SCCF’s Adopt a Sea Turtle Nest at https://donorbox.org/sccf-sea-turtle-nest.
To track the nests, visit http://seaturtle.org/nestdb/index.shtml?year=2023&view_beach=335.