The first sea turtle nests of the season hatched on Pensacola Beach Thursday, July 26.
Biologists reported the two hatched nests early Friday morning. Thursday's full moon provided optimal lighting conditions for the new turtles as they made their way to the Gulf of Mexico. The first nest was a Kemp's Ridley, the most endangered species of sea turtle in the world, and the second nest was a loggerhead, currently listed as a threatened species.
Each year, beginning in mid-May and ending in late summer, the Gulf beaches provide nesting habitats for several species of sea turtles, including the loggerhead, Kemp's ridley, green and sometimes the leatherback.
Light pollution has a negative effect on sea turtles, causing hatchlings to become disoriented and head away from the Gulf of Mexico when they emerge from their nest. Escambia County wants to remind our residents and guests on Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key to shut off exterior lights when they are not necessary and to close curtains and blinds to minimize the impact of artificial lights on nesting beaches.
If you witness a hatching event, stay back and turn off any lights. Don't approach or handle hatchling turtles. If you notice hatchlings wandering away from the water and into danger, contact Escambia County Natural Resources Management at 850-595-1144.
The Escambia County Commission adopted the Barrier Island Lighting Ordinance in 2014 in order to protect sea turtles and requires turtle friendly lighting for all new construction, and allowed existing lights until Jan. 1, 2018 to come into compliance. Any light visible from the beach must meet the turtle friendly standards found in the ordinance.
Do not disturb nesting females or hatchlings by using flashlights, flash photography or lanterns at night. If you must use lighting on the island, follow these instructions from the Florida Wildlife Commission:
- Keep it long: Long wavelength lights are better for turtles. Look for the red and amber lights that have been certified as turtle-friendly by the FWC and use red/amber flashlights on the beach at night.
- Keep it low: When illuminating walkways use low-wattage bulbs and install lights close to the ground.
- Keep it shielded: Focus lights down, not up or outward, to avoid confusing nesting turtles and hatchlings.
For more information on sea turtles in Escambia County, click here.
