Traveling During Sea Turtle Nesting Season? Here’s How To Help Protect These Majestic Creatures

Seven different types of sea turtles live in Earth’s waters, six of which are classified as endangered or threatened, with the Kemp’s ridley turtle and hawksbill turtle listed as critically endangered.

Sea turtles are found in most of the world’s oceans, save for cold polar waters. That’s why it’s important for people traveling to coastal areas to be mindful of sea turtles, especially if heading to a nesting area during nesting season.

In the Northern Hemisphere, sea turtles typically lay their eggs between March and October, while in the Southern Hemisphere, nesting can occur between November and June.

According to the Sea Turtle Conservancy, little is known about why sea turtles nest on some beaches and not other seemingly identical locations. The turtles may choose nesting locations based on temperatures, beach conditions, predator distribution and other factors that existed centuries ago.

Climate change impacts the turtles to a great degree as well, with nesting habitats being disrupted by worsening storms, warmer temperatures putting turtle embryos at risk, and warming waters and ocean acidification reducing the quality of the turtles’ food, according to the Sea Turtle Conservancy.

Humans impact sea turtle nesting grounds in other ways as well, by way of beach erosion from coastal armoring, navigational inlets, artificial lighting and beach replenishment, and these factors will likely have lasting effects on the animals’ nesting habits.

“Especially here in Juno Beach, we’ve got a lot of beachgoers at night, and most of them are respectful,” Dr. Justin Perrault, Director of Research at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, Florida, told weather.com. “These sea turtles are wild animals, they do have a fear response and they are protected by the Endangered Species Act. … Any interaction with these animals that is not permitted by local government is actually against the law.”

Below are some things travelers can do to protect sea turtles when spending time on the beach or boating.

Use Reef-Friendly Sunscreen

Turtles are known to eat plants, algae and animals that grow and live among coral. The health of the world’s coral reefs is vital to turtles, among countless other sea creatures.

Sunscreen ingredients have a direct impact on the health of oceans, contributing to ocean toxicity and coral bleaching. In 2021, Hawaii became the first state to ban sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate, both of which harm coral. Consumers can search for sunscreens marked “reef-safe” and “reef-friendly” on their labels.

Check for sunscreens containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which are kinder to coral reefs.

Don’t Use Flashlights Or Cell Phones On The Beach At Night

Artificial light can confuse and disorient sea turtles, making it difficult for them to nest. It’s important for any nighttime beachgoers to keep the atmosphere dark. If visitors must use artificial lighting, look for turtle-friendly lights which should have a reddish hue and be kept low and dim, according to Perrault.

Know What Turtle Tracks Look Like

Mature sea turtles weigh hundreds of pounds and thus leave deep tracks in the sand. The trained eye can recognize flipper marks in the tracks left behind. Each species leaves its distinct footprints. Below are a few examples.

These tracks are staggered and comma-shaped. The shorter front flippers typically do not leave a mark, and their tracks are almost exclusively made by the hind flippers, which alternate as they move.

Green Sea Turtle

As opposed to the loggerhead, green turtles drag themselves through the sand using both flippers at the same time. Their tracks in the sand show straight flipper marks in pairs, similar to a bulldozer track, according to conservationtales.com.

Leatherback Turtle

Leatherback tracks are unmistakable, as they can be over seven feet across, much larger than the tracks of other sea turtles, and even larger than the tracks left behind by an ATV. The wide tracks look like a double track. Like green turtles, they move their flippers in unison, and the marks left behind are even clearer than those left by the green turtle or the loggerhead. They are also more apt to meander the beaches rather than traveling in a straight line to and from the sea.

Use Caution While Boating

Boaters should drop their speed when they are close to shore, as there could be thousands of sea turtles within 1 to 2 miles of the shore during mating season. Perrault recommends boaters wear polarized sunglasses so they can better see what’s in the water surrounding them.

Outboard jet motors, which sit a bit higher in the water, have made a big difference in reducing injuries to sea turtles and other marine life, Perrault said.

Leave No Trace

Beachgoers should avoid leaving any items on the beach overnight, such as tents, canopies, chairs or anything else that can serve as an obstacle between the sea turtle and its nesting ground. Litter can be especially problematic, as sea turtles have been known to confuse trash for food and become caught in trash while traveling to and from nesting sites. It’s easy to picture a tiny baby sea turtle getting easily caught in six-pack rings or discarded fishing gear. Throw any garbage in a nearby trash can or take it with you when you leave.

“If you dig a big hole, make sure you fill that in. If you build a big sand castle, make sure you knock it down,” Perrault said.

Perrault also advised against beach fires and said that visitors should be careful when putting beach umbrellas in the ground.

Keep Your Distance From Turtles And Marked Nesting Locations

Visitors should stay at least 50 yards away from sea turtles they spot on the beach and avoid disturbing any marked nests. Leave hatchlings to find the ocean on their own. If you see a struggling sea turtle, keep your distance and call a local wildlife agency.

“Not everybody cares about the environment in the same way, and that’s acceptable. Not everyone cares about sea turtles, and that’s OK,” Perrault said. “But the health of the sea turtle in the ocean tells us a lot about the health of the entire planet as an ecosystem. If we’re starting to see disease outbreaks or changes in sea turtle health, that can often tell us a lot about the environment we’re living in. We all live on one planet and everything impacts us together.”

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.