06/01/2026
🌙📱 Sea turtles need dark beaches — and even small lights can make a big impact.
Did you know that bright white lights from cell phones, flashlights, beach lanterns, and nearby buildings can reduce sea turtle nesting and put hatchlings at risk?
Female sea turtles come ashore at night to lay their eggs. Bright lights can scare them away before they nest, causing what’s called a false crawl — when a turtle returns to the ocean without laying eggs.
For hatchlings, the danger is even greater. Baby sea turtles naturally use the moonlight reflecting off the ocean to find their way home. Artificial white lights can confuse them and lead them inland instead of toward the water, where they can become exhausted, dehydrated, or vulnerable to predators.
If you’re visiting our beautiful beaches during nesting season, you can help:
🐢 Keep flashlights and phone lights off when possible. If your hotel your condo faces gulf waters please close your blinds at night to avoid projecting light onto the beach.
🔴 Using red lights if needing lighting assistance instead of white lights at night
📸 Avoid flash photography
🏖️ Fill in holes and remove beach gear before leaving
👀 Observe sea turtles from a respectful distance
📕 Educate Others by sharing this information with friends and family to spread awareness about the importance of sea turtle conservation.
Small actions can make a huge difference for these incredible animals. Help us keep our beaches turtle-friendly and give the next generation the best chance to make it to the sea 💚🌊
