Dos and Don'ts of Sea Turtle Nests

Singer Island and North Palm Beach are home to some of the most populated sea turtle nesting sites in the world. Last year, in the 10-mile stretch from north Singer Island to south Jupiter Island, the Loggerhead Marinelife Center recorded a total of 16,000 sea turtle nests, a record-breaking number. Since it's the middle of the season, you'll surely come across a nest, maybe even a sea turtle. It's important to protect the nests of these creatures as many species, like the loggerhead, are declining. Here is a list of things you can do to help preserve the turtles:

Do:

• Throw away debris left on the beach
• Fill in holes in the sand, knock down sand castles, and move objects that could obstruct a sea turtle’s path to and from the ocean
• If you come across a sea turtle laying eggs, observe at a distance from behind the turtle
• Look out for disoriented baby turtles on trails and roads nearby
• Keep your lights out near the beach
• Bring weak or disoriented hatchlings to Loggerhead Marinelife Center. They can be placed in the 24-hour drop-off cooler outside the Center’s entrance (14200 US Highway One, Juno Beach, FL 33408)

Don’t:

• Interact with or disrupt a sea turtle when it's laying eggs (Doing so could get you in trouble also)
• Use lighting on the beach at night including flashlights and cell phones
• Touch baby turtles on their way to the ocean
• Take or touch empty egg shells or unhatched eggs
• Harm or harass sea turtles, their nests or babies
• Use shovels to dig on the beach during nesting season