Every summer, sea turtles nest on Pinellas beaches. A few simple habits make a huge difference for these ancient mariners.
From roughly May through October, sea turtles come ashore on Pinellas beaches to lay their eggs. These loggerheads, greens, and the occasional Kemp's ridley are protected — and residents and visitors play a big role in whether their hatchlings survive.
Why it matters
Only a tiny fraction of hatchlings survive to adulthood, so every nest counts. Artificial light, beach obstacles, and disturbed nests all reduce their odds. The good news is that helping is easy.
Lights out for turtles
Hatchlings find the sea by moving toward the brightest horizon, which should be the moonlit Gulf. Artificial lights disorient them and lead them inland toward danger.
- Turn off or shield beachfront lights at night
- Close curtains facing the beach
- Use red-filtered flashlights if you must have light
- Never use flash photography near turtles or nests
Keep the beach clean and flat
- Fill in holes and knock down sandcastles before you leave
- Remove beach chairs, tents, and gear at night
- Take all trash with you — plastic is deadly to turtles
- Never disturb marked nests
If you see a turtle or nest
Keep your distance, stay quiet, and do not touch. Report disoriented hatchlings or injured turtles to the local wildlife authorities. Marked nests are monitored by trained volunteers — let them do their work.
Sharing the beach responsibly is a small price for helping a species that has been around for over 100 million years. Lights out, holes filled, trash gone — that's all it takes.
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