Loggerhead Marinelife Center
List of “DO” and “DON’T” for Healthy Turtles
Things to DO
Throw away all foreign objects and
debris left behind on the beach in a
beach trashcan
Fill in holes in the sand which may
obstruct a sea turtle’s path to and from
the ocean
Observe a nesting sea turtle from a
distance and from behind
Look out for disoriented hatchlings on
trails and roads near the beach
Keep your lights out near the beach or
install sea turtle-friendly lighting
Bring weak or confused hatchlings to a
local sea turtle habitat (such as Loggerhead
Marinelife Center or Gumbo Limbo
Nature Center), but only when necessary
“DON’T” List for the health of these turtles, their
nests and their newborn hatchlings.
All sea turtle professionals stress the “Lights
Out” campaign where beachgoers or residents
near the beach who require light maintain a
“shield” so that the light will not shine onto the
beach directly at night. Any light will draw a sea
turtle like the sun on a horizon line away from the
ocean and the main goal is to get the hatchlings
into the ocean with no interruption at all. Never
nests as this may confuse or disorient them as
well. And by no means ever approach or pick up
a sea turtle or their hatchlings. Should you encounter
a weak, confused or lost (such as on the
highway or away from the actual beach) hatchling,
please call or bring it by Loggerhead Marinelife
Center or Gumbo Limbo Nature Center.
Loggerhead Marinelife Center has a unique
Please DON’T
Don’t interact with or disrupt a nesting
sea turtle
Don’t use lighting on the beach at night
including flash photography
Don’t touch hatchlings on their way to
the ocean
Don’t take any action for empty egg
shells, or exposed, un-hatched eggs
Don’t harm or harass sea turtles, their
nests or hatchlings
Don’t use shovels or picks to dig on the
beach during nesting season
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ason
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trance should you need to use it.
Now remember Palm Beach County has a
beach that extends from the top of the county in
Jupiter to the bottom of the county in Boca
Raton, so these “DO’s” and “DON’T’s” should
pertain to all beach areas marked with Turtle
Nesting signs. And, National Law dictates it is illegal
to harm or harass a sea turtle, a sea turtle
nest or a sea turtle hatchling. So, please, watch
when you go to the beach.
Places exist in our area where you can learn
about these wonderful sea creatures: Loggerhead
Marinelife Center (Juno Beach), Gumbo Limbo
Nature Center (Boca Raton) and Sandoway
House (Delray Beach).
Visit us at explorepalmbeach.com
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