You’ve seen the bumper stickers – “Turtles dig the dark” – and it’s more than just a catchy phrase.
It’s a matter of life and death for sea turtles and their offspring.
Sea turtle nesting season got underway in March and now, two months in, sea turtles are arriving at the beaches along St. Lucie’s coast, digging the sand to deposit their eggs – the next generation of sea turtles.
Leatherback turtles are the first of three species to come ashore this time of year. At last count, there were at least seven nests. Last year at this time there were eight.
“That’s pretty normal,” said Ken Gioeli, extension agent/natural resources at UF/IFAS Extension St Lucie County.
Soon to come ashore will be Loggerhead turtles, and later, the Green sea turtles. By mid-summer, turtle nesting will be in full swing.
Between now and mid-November, residents along the county’s beaches and visitors at those beaches are reminded to mind their turtle etiquette. Make sure all lights facing the ocean are completely shielded – meaning the light can’t be seen from the beach. Pick up all beach furniture, fill in all pits, and knock down all sand castles; all of these can trip up a turtle on its way to or from its nest.
Too much light on the beach and too much activity can cause what’s called “false crawls.” Such incidents are when a mama-turtle-to-be crawls up on shore to nest only to decide to head back to the water instead.
Gioeli said it takes a great deal of effort for sea turtles to come ashore, so using that energy only to retreat to the water makes it that much more difficult for her to nest later.
Another challenge posed to sea turtle nesting is well-intentioned bystanders, according to Gioeli. Sometimes they can’t help themselves and get too close while the sea turtle is digging or laying her eggs.
Gioeli encourages those who happen upon a nesting turtle to keep their distance, turn off the flashlight (no flash photography, please), and do not touch.
While lighting is a concern during nesting, it remains a concern during hatching. Lights seen on the beach can disorient hatchlings, who can mistake the glow of an errant television for the moon and head the wrong way.
Light also aids predators in their hunt for an easy snack, Gioeli said.
“They need as much help as possible,” he said of the vulnerable hatchlings, short of picking them up and taking them to the shore.
During hatching, those on the beach who see hatchlings in distress are encouraged to call the Fish and Wildlife Commission to report the matter. The person on the other end can then instruct callers on what to do. Callers can call *FWC on their cellphones, send a text/email to Tip@myfwc.com, or dial 888-404-FWCC (3922).
Beyond turning out the lights and picking up the beach furniture, the best thing any beachgoer can do is pick up the trash. The problem with plastic trash floating in the ocean is well known and its effects on the marine life are getting noticed.
Leatherback turtles munch on jellyfish – which benefits anyone who likes to swim in the ocean. Fewer jellyfish means less risk of getting stung. The problem is, plastic bags and balloons are often mistaken for jellyfish, leading to turtles dying from complications of having eaten them.
And, if the sea turtles don’t die from eating the bags and balloons, female turtles could end up having difficulty laying their eggs – as the eggs and her waste leave her body by the same port, Gioeli explained.
“Most people are in tune with the issue,” Gioeli said of being turtle safe at the beach. Others, particularly tourists and seasonal residents, are not.
He said there have been cases of northerners picking up a hatchling and taking it back home with them. There have been other cases of illegal poaching – people killing the turtle and taking its shell.
“We have a lot of eyes and ears on the beach right now,” Gioeli said.
One way to combat the mistreatment of the turtles is to continue public education efforts. Gioeli continues to go out to community meetings to discuss sea turtles and is willing to provide materials and further information via email at residents’ request.
To get more information about local sea turtles, call 772-462-1627 or email ktgioeli@ufl.edu.
