Artificial lighting can cause nesting females or newly-emerged hatchlings to go the wrong direction. During sea turtle nesting season (May 1 through October 31 in Venice), residents near the beach should turn off or shield their lights at night: turn off exterior lights, use blackout curtains, do not use cellphones/flash lights on the beach.
- If you encounter a nesting turtle or hatchlings, remain quiet and observe from a distance.
- Fill in holes that may entrap hatchlings on their way to the water.
- Do not approach nesting turtles or hatchlings, make noise, or shine lights at turtles.
- Do not use flashlights or fishing lamps on the beach.
- Do not encourage a turtle to move while nesting or pick up hatchlings that have emerged and are heading for the water.
- Do not use fireworks on the beach.
Emergency contacts
- If you see a sick, injured or stranded sea turtle in Sarasota or Manatee county waters, contact Mote Marine Laboratory’s Stranding Investigations Program at 888-345-2335. Outside of Sarasota or Manatee counties, please call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) at 888-404-FWCC (3922).
- If you suspect that someone is tampering with a sea turtle nest, harassing a sea turtle or has possession of a sea turtle or any of its parts, please call FWC, call your local sheriff’s department and/or call Mote's Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program at 941.388.4331. If you find sea turtle hatchlings that are not on the beach or are headed away from the ocean, call Mote’s Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program for instructions. Do not put hatchlings in water or take them into air conditioning. Hatchlings heading towards the ocean should be left alone.
Follow along with sea turtle nesting numbers this season at mote.org/2021nesting.
1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota. 941.388.4441. Mote.org.