Three Simple Ways to Make the Beach a Better Place
James Monaco
Sea turtle necklace is beach ready. (hand-carved bone topped with fossil turtle shell from the Pleistocine period)
Have you been to the beach during turtle nesting season? It begins May 1st of each year. To celebrate this season, I've created several baby sea turtle pendants ready to join you as you walk the beach in the early morning searching for tracks left by female loggerhead turtles.
In preparation for nesting season, here are three simple ways to make the beach turtle-ready.
Everyone should have a statement piece of jewelry. This sea turtle pendant is made for the beach.
1. We are very close to Mote Marine Laboratories. They have marine biologists who mark the sea turtle nests with stakes and orange tape. So your first simple act is not to walk over or through these nesting sites.
Sweet baby sea turtle with turquoise inlay is beach ready
2. Remove all beach furniture from the beach each night. Did you know that sea turtles get tangled in beach recliners every year on they journey above the tide line? Keeping the beach obstacle-free will help them along.
Sea Turtle Beach Ready Jewelry
3. And finally, if you are lucky enough to live near the beach or are staying in a hotel along the shore, turn off all lights facing the water and close your curtains at night. Upon hatching, baby turtles are drawn to the brightest thing they see. That should be moonlight on the water and not the glow of a television screen or parking garage.
Female Loggerhead on the beach
Three simple ways to make the beach a better place during turtle nesting season:
1. Stay clear of the marked nests
2. Remove all beach furniture at night
3. Turn off lights during nesting season
Enjoy the season!