FWC Urges Beachgoers to Protect Nesting Wildlife Over Holiday Weekend
As Floridians gear up for the Fourth of July holiday, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is reminding everyone that nesting season is still underway for the state’s imperiled sea turtles, shorebirds, seabirds, and wading birds.
Florida’s beaches are home to several threatened and endangered species, including loggerhead, green, leatherback, and Kemp’s ridley sea turtles. Coastal habitats also support vulnerable birds such as black skimmers, least terns, snowy plovers, American oystercatchers, herons, and egrets.
If you’re heading to the beach, the FWC encourages you to be a holiday hero for wildlife by following these simple steps:
-
Leave fireworks at home. Personal fireworks on beaches and waterways can scare nesting birds and sea turtles, causing them to abandon nests. Attend official displays instead.
-
Give wildlife space. Stay at least 50 feet away from nesting sea turtles and give hatchlings plenty of room. Disturbing nesting turtles or their hatchlings is illegal.
-
Watch where you step. Shorebirds nest in shallow scrapes in the sand. Their eggs and chicks are hard to see, so avoid walking through bird colonies and give them at least 300 feet of space.
-
Respect posted areas. Avoid entering marked nesting sites and Critical Wildlife Areas. Keep noise levels low near bird colonies, even if they’re not marked.
-
Leave no trace. Pick up all trash, fill in holes, and remove beach furniture and toys. Debris can block or trap sea turtles and hatchlings, and attract predators.
-
Keep beaches dark. Bright lights can mislead nesting sea turtles and hatchlings. Turn off beachfront lighting and avoid using flashlights or taking flash photos at night.
-
Keep pets leashed or at home. Even friendly dogs can scare nesting birds and wildlife. Pet-free beaches are safest for all animals—wild and domestic.
For more information on protecting nesting wildlife:
-
Visit MyFWC.com/Shorebirds and download the “Share the Beach with Beach-Nesting Birds” brochure
-
Explore FLShorebirdAlliance.org for ways to help seabirds
-
Go to MyFWC.com/SeaTurtle for sea turtle tips and the “Be a Beach Hero” brochure
To report disturbances or injured wildlife, call the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).
Let’s work together to keep Florida’s coasts safe for wildlife this holiday weekend.