Turtle nesting season in Franklin County officially begins on May the 1st and coastal homeowners and renters should be aware of the county ordinance limiting the types of lights that can used along Franklin County's beaches.
The ordinance requires turtle safe lighting on homes built seaward of the coastal control line which means it affects most homes on St. George Island, Dog Island and Alligator Point. House lights in those areas are most easily seen from the beach, and can be deadly to sea turtles, which can mistake the bright lights for the moon. The ordinance bans bright exterior lights as well as exterior lights pointed directly at the beach.
Most homes are already in compliance with the rule – but there are some additional things people can do to make sure turtles can build their nests unhindered.
A few things you can think about are covering windows that point toward the beach, and refraining from building bonfires along the beach. Also, if you happen to see a female turtle crawling on the beach to lay her eggs, don’t point flashlights at her or bother her in any other way.
Five species of sea turtles nest on Florida beaches, with the loggerhead showing up in the largest numbers. Green and leatherback sea turtles also nest in the Sunshine State. Two other species, Kemp's Ridley and hawksbill sea turtles, nest infrequently in Florida but inhabit Florida waters.
The FWC lists the loggerhead as a threatened species; the other four are listed as endangered.
If you should find a sea turtle nest this summer – report it as quickly as possible to Sea Turtles at Risk at 927-2103.
You can also get more information about sea turtles at seaturtlesatrisk.org.
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