Florida has the highest number of sea turtles of any state in the continental U.S. Three species — loggerhead, green and leatherback turtles — are common here.
However, the Federal Endangered Species Act lists all Florida sea turtles as threatened or endangered. So if you see a sea turtle nesting, or nest hatching, stay quiet, keep your distance, and turn any lights off (that means no flash photography).
You should never try to touch a wild sea turtle. Also, do not touch or move any hatchlings. The small turtles need to crawl on the beach to imprint their birth beach on their memory.
During nesting season, keep the beaches "clean, dark and flat." Clean, by removing everything you brought to the beach including trash, food, chairs and toys; dark, by keeping lights off, using sea turtle-friendly lighting and red LED flashlights if necessary; and flat, filling all holes and knocking down sand castles before leaving the beach.
If you see anyone harassing a sea turtle or a sea turtle in distress, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission hotline, 1-888-404-3922.
If you want to see a sea turtle and learn more about these fascinating creatures, visit the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park on Okaloosa Island.
Laura Tiu is an agent at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension office in Crestview.
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DID YOU KNOW?
●Sea turtle nesting season for the area began May 1, 2016.
●Adult females only nest every two to three years.
●At 20 to 35 years old, adult loggerhead and green female turtles return to the beach of their birth to nest. At this age, they are about 3 feet long and 250-300 pounds.
●The turtles will lay their eggs from May through September, with 50 to 150 baby turtles hatching after 45 to 60 days, usually at night.
●One female may nest several times in one season.
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BY THE NUMBERS
Source: 2015 Florida Statewide Nesting Beach Survey, available at: www.myfwc.com.
DID YOU KNOW?
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: TIU: Tips to protect Okaloosa and Walton's sea turtles