MyFWC Florida Fish and Wildlife
Nesting Season Has Begun!
Sea turtles, shorebirds, seabirds and wading birds are starting to nest along our coastlines. DYK, YOU can help these iconic species with nesting success?
“It’s not you, it’s me” – nesting sea turtles and waterbirds just need some space. 
Keep at least 50 feet away from a nesting sea turtle to avoid causing them to leave before they complete the nesting process. Giving beach-nesting birds a full 300 feet of space helps prevent them from flying off, leaving eggs and chicks unprotected. And keep Fido at home or on a short leash – even well-behaved dogs are scary to shorebirds. Avoid being trashy. Properly dispose of or recycle any trash or fishing line to keep wildlife from getting entangled and avoid attracting predators to the sand. Take any beach gear such as toys and chairs home with you to keep the sand clear for nesting sea turtles. Keeping our beautiful beaches clean benefits wildlife, your fellow beachgoers, and you! Look to the stars. When on the beach at night, try and use natural light from the sky to navigate, as lights on the beach can lead sea turtles and their hatchlings away from the ocean and into potential danger. If on beach-front property, show sea turtles (and hatchlings) some love by turning off lights or closing curtains to block light facing the water.For more information about nesting sea turtles and how you can help, visit MyFWC.com/SeaTurtle or see our “Be a Beach Hero” brochure: https://bit.ly/2L38HaZ
For more information about nesting waterbirds, go to MyFWC.com/Shorebirds and download the “Share the Beach with Beach-Nesting Birds” brochure: https://bit.ly/3x9YDof
Media release: http://bit.ly/3ZP6OmE