Flagler County nighttime beachgoers asked to be mindful of sea turtles; how you can help hatchlings

Leatherback sea turtle Leatherback sea turtle (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission)

By Sarah Wilson

FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. — Flagler County officials are urging nighttime beachgoers to be mindful of sea turtles after reports of hatchlings getting disoriented due to lights.

The Volusia-Flagler Turtle Patrol reported that hatchlings from three different nests got disoriented because of light and crawled toward the dunes rather than the ocean.

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“We are concerned about this and want to do what we can to educate our residents and visitors about how to help our beloved sea turtles,” County Administrator Heidi Petito said.

County officials are urging beachgoers in The Hammock to use either the MalaCompra Road access or the north parking lot during turtle-hatching season instead of the south parking lot leading to the Mountain Bike Trail.

Read: Opal the sea turtle to be released after 7-month rehab stay at Brevard Zoo

Sea turtle nesting season runs from May 1 to Oct. 31.

The Volusia-Flagler Turtle Patrol also offers the following advice to help protect both adult turtles and hatchlings:

• Remove obstacles from the beach, as nesting turtles and hatchlings can get caught and injured on beach chairs, umbrellas, and the like.

Read: FWC reminds residents, visitors to help keep sea turtles safe during nesting season

• Pick up trash. Sea turtles often mistake plastic bags and other waste as a food source – a floating plastic bag can look like jellyfish to a turtle – and ingesting non-food items can kill them.

• Do not build bonfires on the beach. The light from beach fires can confuse the turtles coming to shore to lay their eggs, which causes them to return to the water instead of laying their eggs. Fires can also confuse hatchlings, causing them to head toward the glow of the fire instead of the ocean.

Read: How you can help tiny sea turtles that wash up on Volusia County beaches

• Lights out. There are many other light sources that can confuse the turtles as well. Those living along the beach are asked to close the blinds at night. Nighttime beach walkers are asked to consider walking by moonlight rather than using a flashlight.

• Fill in those holes. Both sandcastles and the holes in the sand can be obstacles to laying turtles and hatchlings.

Opal the sea turtle release Opal the sea turtle returned to the ocean on Wednesday weighing double the amount that she did was she was rescued from Port Canaveral seven months ago. (Brevard Zoo)

Opal the sea turtle release Opal the sea turtle returned to the ocean on Wednesday weighing double the amount that she did was she was rescued from Port Canaveral seven months ago. (Brevard Zoo)

Opal the sea turtle release Opal the sea turtle returned to the ocean on Wednesday weighing double the amount that she did was she was rescued from Port Canaveral seven months ago. (Brevard Zoo)

Opal the sea turtle release Opal the sea turtle returned to the ocean on Wednesday weighing double the amount that she did was she was rescued from Port Canaveral seven months ago. (Brevard Zoo)

Opal the sea turtle release Opal the sea turtle returned to the ocean on Wednesday weighing double the amount that she did was she was rescued from Port Canaveral seven months ago. (Brevard Zoo)

Opal the sea turtle release Opal the sea turtle returned to the ocean on Wednesday weighing double the amount that she did was she was rescued from Port Canaveral seven months ago. (Brevard Zoo)

Sea turtle release A young sea turtle named Opal will be released at Lori Wilson Park in Cocoa Beach on Wednesday, July 19. (Brevard Zoo)

Sea turtle release A young sea turtle named Opal will be released at Lori Wilson Park in Cocoa Beach on Wednesday, July 19. (Brevard Zoo)

Sea turtle release A young sea turtle named Opal will be released at Lori Wilson Park in Cocoa Beach on Wednesday, July 19. (Brevard Zoo)

Sea turtle release A young sea turtle named Opal will be released at Lori Wilson Park in Cocoa Beach on Wednesday, July 19. (Brevard Zoo)

Sea turtle release A young sea turtle named Opal will be released at Lori Wilson Park in Cocoa Beach on Wednesday, July 19. (Brevard Zoo)

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