Sea turtle nesting season is currently at its peak

Historic City News reminds you that sea turtle nesting season is currently at its peak, with female turtles still nesting and hatchlings from older nests beginning to emerge.

Residents and visitors have a special responsibility to protect these magnificent creatures and their vulnerable nesting sites as they return each season to nest along the beaches.

Stay out of trouble and do your part to help protect the natural habitat by observing the following actions while enjoying the beach:

• Refrain from using artificial light such as white lights from flashlights, camera flashes, and cell phones. St. Johns County provides free red filters to place over flashlights at every beach access point within the City of St. Augustine Beach.
• Beachfront property owners and visitors are asked to turn off all exterior lights and cover windows to reduce interior light impacts at night.
• Fill in holes in the sand as they are hazardous to nesting females and hatchlings, which may become trapped while traversing the sand.
• Remove all chairs, umbrellas, tents, toys, coolers, and other beach equipment to prevent disrupting the paths of nesting females and hatchlings.

If you encounter an injured animal, do not push it back into the ocean. Report any injured, sick, or deceased sea turtle to the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency dispatch line by calling 904.824.8304.

St. Johns County is grateful to volunteers, residents, visitors, and businesses for supporting habitat conservation efforts and keeping our beaches beautiful.