
Although sea turtle nesting season is officially May 1 through October 31. Mote Marine began monitoring beaches around the Sarasota area beaches, such as Siesta Key and Lido Key a couple weeks early, as they usually do. The two main types of sea turtle species that nest in our area are Green Sea Turtles, and the much more abundant Logger Head Sea Turtles.
As either permanent residents or a visitor to our lovely community, we must all be careful not to disturb the sea turtles or their nesting habits. Please read below for Siesta Key Beachside Villas tips on how to make sure we do not disrupt the precious sea turtles nesting in Sarasota, Fl.
- Lights! This is key, all lights visible from the beach must be turned off when the sun goes down throughout sea turtle nesting season. By instinct sea turtles naturally attempt to crawl towards the light of the moon, which leads them to the water as soon as they emerge from their nests. Sea turtles and can be confused by non-natural lights, which can lead them to crawl the wrong way which can be fatal for the little guys.
- Move any obstacles such as beach chairs, that can prevent the hatchlings from reaching the water.
- Do not approach sea turtle nests or hatchlings at any point while visiting the beach.
- Don’t litter! Not only does litter degrade the aesthetic quality of our beaches such as Siesta Key, but also can entangle marine life such as sea turtles.
If you see an injured sea turtleplease DO NOT approach it or pick it up. Please call a Mote Marine specialist at 1 (888) 345 – 2335. Please follow these tips brought to you by Siesta Key Beachside Villas while enjoying our beaches and we’ll see you on the beach!