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Keep Pensacola Beach & Perdido Key Sea Turtle-Friendly

Escambia County reminds beachgoers to “leave no trace” and turn out the lights this spring and summer, keeping Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key safe and sea turtle-friendly. May is the beginning of sea turtle nesting season in Florida, with thousands of endangered turtles laying their eggs on Gulf Coast and Atlantic beaches until the season ends October 31.

Lights out to protect baby sea turtles

  • 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.
  • Do not disturb nesting females or hatchlings by using flashlights, flash photography or lanterns at night.
  • Turn out beachfront lights after dusk.
  • Close blinds and curtains in beachfront homes when interior lights are on at night.
  • To view complete sea turtle lighting regulations for Pensacola Beach, click here.

“Leave No Trace” on the beach

  • Fill in any holes in the sand and knock down sand sculptures at day’s end to remove obstacles blocking sea turtles’ nesting activities.
  • Remain at a distance from nesting sea turtles and hatchlings.  
  • Properly dispose of trash and discarded fishing gear. Sea turtles can become entangled in old fishing nets and lines or ingest plastic bags and wrappers, mistaking them for jellyfish.
  • Remove personal belongings from the beach at the end of each day. Items such as umbrellas, tents, beach toys and chairs left unattended on Pensacola Beach overnight will be removed and disposed of by cleaning crews.
  • Through the Leave No Trace ordinance adopted in August 2015 by the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners, it is illegal to leave personal property on any portion of the sandy gulf beach daily from sunset until sunrise.
  • To view the Leave No Trace ordinance, click here.

 Report a Leave No Trace Behind Issue

Learn more on our Sea Turtles pages.

Sea turtle protection message advising visitors to leave no trace on the beach and turn off lights at night.
Readable text from this image

Protect Sea Turtles and Beach Wildlife

For the protection of sea turtles and other wildlife, please follow these guidelines.

Leave Only Your Footprints on Pensacola Beach

  • Remove umbrellas, tents, hammocks, beach toys, picnic tables, and chairs each day
  • Return all personal items to your home, vehicle, or vacation property at the end of the day
  • Items left unattended after sunset will be removed and disposed of by beach cleaning crews

Lights Out! Sea Turtles Dig the Dark

  • Turn out beachfront lights after dusk
  • Close blinds and curtains in beachfront homes
  • Do not disturb nesting females or hatchlings
  • Avoid flash photography or lantern use at night
  • Fill in any holes in the sand at the end of the day

Sea Turtle Facts

  • Escambia County beaches are home to four of the six species of sea turtles found in U.S. waters: loggerhead, green, leatherback and Kemp’s ridley. 

  • All species of sea turtles are listed as threatened or endangered and protected by the Endangered Species Act. 

  • Only an estimated 1 in 1,000 sea turtle hatchlings survive to reach adulthood.  

To report an injured or dead sea turtle,
contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
at 1-888-404-3922.

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