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If you find a sick or injured sea turtle, please do not place it back in the water. It may need medical assistance.

Call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commision's Wildlife Alert Hotline at 1-888-404-FWCC (888-404-3922) or,

from your cell phone, dial #FWC or *FWC .

Sharing the Beach

  1. Leave No Trace: Ensure the beach remains safe for mama turtles by taking everything with you when you leave. Remove any obstacles, fill in holes, and knock down sandcastles to prevent turtles from getting trapped or injured.

  2. Dispose of Trash Properly: Mama turtles might mistake your plastic bag for a jellyfish and eat it, which can make them sick. Before you leave, pick up all your trash and any litter left by others, placing it in the appropriate trash or recycling bins.

  3. Minimize Lighting: Bright lights from beach bonfires, flashlights, or nearby roads can confuse and discourage nesting turtles. Turn off or shield lights to avoid disorienting the turtles and ensure they can safely come ashore to lay their eggs.

  4. Respect Nesting Turtles: If you see a turtle coming ashore to nest, maintain a respectful distance. Avoid approaching, making loud noises, or making quick movements. Disturbing her could cause her to abandon her nesting attempt and dump her eggs in the ocean, which would be fatal for the hatchlings.

  5. Seek Assistance if Needed: Turtles have been nesting without our help for thousands of years, and human interference can be harmful. If you are lucky enough to witness a turtle coming to shore to nest, please stay quiet, keep your distance, and enjoy the amazing opportunity. If you see bystanders crowding or harassing a nesting turtle, please call the FWC for assistance at 1-888-404-FWCC (888-404-3922).

Hazards on the Beach

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Trash - Released Balloons

Balloons that have been released into the air will eventually deflate/pop when they reach higher altitudes, and will often fall into the sea, where they are mistaken for jellyfish, an important source of food for sea turtles. Turtles are unable to digest the balloons, which can lead to malnutrition or suffocation. Flagler Beach & Flagler County have recently banned the intentional release of balloons into the air due to the ecological impact.

Artificial Light

Disorientations can occur when artificial light distracts sea turtles, especially hatchlings who have newly emerged from their nest and are looking for the sea. Babies are drawn toward the light source, which causes them to get lost in the foliage. Turtle hatchlings are extremely dependent on the temperature around them and being stranded out of the water in daytime hours will kill them. In this photo, balcony and bedroom lights were left on overnight by a homeowner.

Holes & Sand Sculptures

Sandcastles and holes left on the beach can pose significant hazards to nesting sea turtles. These structures and indentations disrupt the natural landscape of the beach, creating physical obstacles that can hinder turtles from reaching suitable nesting sites. Adult turtles may struggle to navigate around them, and hatchlings emerging from their nests can become trapped in holes, making them vulnerable to predators, dehydration, or being unable to reach the ocean.

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