mail@floridanewsline.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nSea turtle nesting season officially begins May 1, and the Ponte Vedra Sea Turtle Patrol is calling on all beachgoers to be good neighbors to these ancient marine reptiles by following a few simple, turtle-friendly tips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFlorida\u2019s Atlantic Coast is a vital nesting ground for over 75 percent of the world\u2019s population of Loggerhead sea turtles,\u201d said Sea Turtle Patrol Permit Holders Sandy Stam and Colette Crone. \u201cWe also welcome Green, Leatherback and Kemp\u2019s Ridley marine turtles to our shores. It\u2019s up to us to share the sand responsibly and make sure their nesting journey ends with a safe start for the next generation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because most marine turtles lay their nests during the night hours, trained sea turtle patrol teams conduct daily morning surveys to monitor activity. When a patrol discovers a nest, it is triangulated by stakes and taped off to protect it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beachgoers can do their part by remembering \u201cClean, Dark, Flat\u201d:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clean: Leave only footprints. Sea turtles search for a quiet and obstacle-free space to make their nests. This means no plastic, toys or leftover chairs remaining on the beach after dusk. If it didn\u2019t originate naturally from the ocean, it shouldn\u2019t remain on the beach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dark: Lights out, turtles are out and about. Nesting females and hatchlings find the ocean by following the light of the moon \u2014 and flashlights, phones or bright building lights can lead them astray, often with fatal consequences. St. Johns County enforces strict lighting rules to help keep their path clear and natural.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Flat: Your personal sandcastle or mighty hole to China might be a trap for a turtle. Before you leave, flatten sand sculptures and fill in holes. What\u2019s fun for humans can be hazardous for a nesting mama or tiny hatchling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If a sea turtle is seen nesting or a hatchling is discovered along the beach, report it to the permit holder listed on the nest marker or contact the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Photo courtesy St. Johns County Environmental Division<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By NewsLine Staffmail@floridanewsline.com Sea turtle nesting season officially begins May 1, and the Ponte Vedra Sea Turtle Patrol is calling on all beachgoers to be good neighbors to these ancient marine reptiles by following a few simple, turtle-friendly tips. \u201cFlorida\u2019s Atlantic Coast is a vital nesting ground for over 75 percent of the world\u2019s population […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":11601,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[156,4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-11634","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nassau","8":"category-ponte-vedra"},"yoast_head":"\n
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