First sea turtle sighting in Perdido

Escambia County Sea Turtle Patrol recorded Perdido Key’s first sea turtle nest Sunday, June 5. After an early start on Pensacola Beach, this nest is the first on the county portion of Perdido Key. Since May and June are the busiest nesting months in Escambia County, more nests are expected in the coming weeks.

Sea turtles of all sizes face many threats. For nesting females, white lights on the beach may deter them from nesting or cause them to abandon a nesting attempt, also known as a false crawl. In addition, furniture, tents and toys left on the beach overnight create obstacles for nesting turtles and can injure or trap them on the beach.

Beachgoers can help protect nesting sea turtles in Escambia County by remembering:

• Leave Only Footprints! Remove all furniture and toys from the beach when you’re done for the day, including hammocks, tents, canopies, chairs, toys and sports equipment.
• Lights Out! Female turtles prefer dark, quiet beaches for nesting, and hatchlings need dark skies to find the Gulf of Mexico. Leave the flashlights and cell phones at home or use a red flashlight when on the beach at night. Turn off beach-facing lights and close windows and curtains to keep our beaches dark.
• Stow It, Don’t Throw it! Trash and food waste can entangle turtles and other wildlife and attract unwanted predators. Always dispose of trash in the proper receptacle and refrain from feeding wildlife.
• If You Dig It, Fill It! Large holes are hazardous to both wildlife and people. Avoid digging large holes and fill in any holes, trenches or moats at the end of your visit.

For more information about sea turtles and other coastal wildlife in Escambia County, check out MyEscambia.com/seaturtles or follow the Escambia County Natural Resources Management Department on Facebook at @ECNaturalResourcesManagement.

If you encounter a nesting turtle, turn off all lights and retreat a safe distance away. Dead or injured sea turtles should be reported to Escambia County Marine Resources at (850) 426-1257 or the FWC Wildlife Alert line at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922). All sea turtle work performed by Escambia County was completed under Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Marine Turtle Permits #032a and #202.