| The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission | | | | Turn off outside lights and shield indoor lights if living on |
| reports that Loggerhead nest counts are down 27.8% | | | | the beach. The lights cause females to abandon the |
| since 1989. Since 1998, the counts are down 45%. | | | | nesting process and could keep other females from |
| There are many threats to their survival. Artificial | | | | coming ashore. Light also disorients hatchlings. If you |
| lighting on nesting beaches causes hatchlings from | | | | see an injured or dead sea turtle, call the Florida Fish |
| nests to crawl inland rather than toward the water. | | | | and Wildlife Conservation Commission Division of Law |
| On developed beaches, coastal armoring meant to | | | | Enforcement at 1-888-404-FWCC. While visiting Florida |
| protect buildings from erosion has resulted in the loss | | | | between May and July, join a guided turtle walk |
| of nesting habitat near natural dunes. Throughout the | | | | available in Juno Beach at the Marinelife Center, North |
| state's waters, collisions with boats provide the most | | | | Palm Beach at the John D. MacArthur Beach State |
| common identifiable cause of trauma in sea turtles that | | | | Park Nature Center and in Boca Raton at the Gumbo |
| wash up dead on beaches. There are other dangers | | | | Limbo Nature Center. Hatchling releases run during |
| to our sea turtles. The turtle hospital in Marathon, | | | | August and September. If visiting the keys, stop at the |
| Florida treats a variety of turtle ailments, such as flipper | | | | Turtle Hospital in Marathon to investigate their rescue, |
| amputations caused by fishing line and trap rope | | | | rehabilitation and release program. |
| entanglements, shell damage caused by boat collisions, | | | | What is happening in other parts of the world? |
| and intestinal impactions caused by ingestion of foreign | | | | Green sea turtles are raised in the world's only turtle |
| material such as plastic bags, balloons and fishing lines. | | | | farm in Grand Cayman. Here the turtles are raised for |
| Turtles love jellyfish and shrimp and ingest filters from | | | | food. Tourists can adopt a sea turtle for a small |
| cigarettes and plastic in error. Turtles that died from | | | | amount, guaranteeing that a turtle will be released in |
| starvation were found with a stomach full of cigarette | | | | their name. School children on the island are each |
| filters. | | | | permitted to release a sea turtle in October of each |
| Raccoons love turtle eggs and are not fussy about | | | | year. The conditions seem inhumane to us, but the |
| their choice of food and they're clever and persistent | | | | turtles are a part of the diet of these people and have |
| at getting to food sources. After being fed, they will | | | | been for centuries. |
| come back and bring other raccoons. When wild | | | | WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP THE SEA |
| animals are close to humans, it is easier for them to | | | | TURTLES? |
| transmit disease through bites and scratches. They | | | | 1. Never throw litter on the beach or in the water. 2. If |
| can carry distemper, rabies and parasites, infecting | | | | pets are allowed on the beach, keep them leashed at |
| pets and people. It is illegal to feed wild raccoons in | | | | all times. 3. Obey all beach rules and stay away from |
| Florida and you can be fined and jailed. Keep garbage | | | | turtle nesting sites. 4. Help spread the word about sea |
| cans covered and secured and in the garage or bin | | | | turtles. The more people know, the more they will want |
| with a latchable lid. Do not leave pet food outside at | | | | to help them. 5. Watch for turtles while boating. 6. |
| night. Remember also, it is against the law to touch or | | | | During nesting seasons, turn lights facing the beach off |
| disturb nesting sea turtles, hatchlings or their nests. Do | | | | or have proper filters. 7. Participate in local beach and |
| not walk on the beach with a flashlight or shine lights at | | | | reef cleanups. 8. Do not buy sea turtle |
| sea turtles. Do not take pictures at night using a flash. | | | | products-jewelry, oil, leather, meat or eggs. |