Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission:
Here’s what you can do to be a holiday hero this Labor Day weekend to help our vulnerable sea turtles and shorebirds:
Clear the way at the end of the day — take all beach gear home, properly dispose of any trash and fill in any man-made holes to keep sea turtles from getting trapped. When in doubt, lights out — lights on or along the beach can disorient newly hatched sea turtles, leading them away from the ocean and into danger. Leave your cell phones off and flashlights at home if at the beach after dark. Living or staying in a beachfront building? Turn off exterior lights if you can and close curtains to block light facing the beach. Give sea turtles, emerging hatchlings and shorebirds space. If an animal changes its behavior when you approach, that’s a sign that you may be too close. If you find a sea turtle hatchling or adult sea turtle in distress, immediately call the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline: 888-404-FWCC (3922), #FWC or *FWC on your cellphone or text 847411 with keyword “FWC,” followed by the city and/or county and any information.