Sea Turtle Nesting Season Begins March 1 – Nov. 15
St. Lucie County is asking residents, businesses and visitors to help conserve sea turtles. You can do this by following sea turtle friendly practices such as proper beachfront lighting. Improper beachfront lighting can imperil our endangered and threatened sea turtle populations. If one observes sea turtle nest poaching or harassment of sea turtles on the beach, please call 911 or the Florida Fish and Wildlife hotline at 1-888-404-FWCC.
Improper beachfront lighting endangers nesting sea turtles and hatchlings. St Lucie County enforces sea turtle lighting codes during sea turtle nesting season.
This runs from March 1 – Nov. 15, 2017.
Exterior light sources directly visible from the beach or illuminating areas seaward of the primary dune must be turned off. This must be done between sunset and sunrise during nesting season. Existing artificial light sources should not be directly visible from the beach and cannot illuminate areas seaward of the primary dune.
Lights illuminating must be shielded so they are not directly visible from the beach:
- beach access points
- dune crossovers
- beach walkways
- piers or any other structure seaward of the primary dune designed for pedestrian traffic
Window treatments are required on all windows of single and multi-story structures. That is if these windows are within the line of sight of the beach. Use Blackout draperies or shade screens. Window tint can be applied to beachfront windows. Also,please try to turn out all unnecessary interior lights during nesting season. Close curtains and blinds at night.
Please no Flashlights and bon fires during nesting season.
Walton Rocks Beach, 6700 South Ocean Drive, South Hutchinson Island, is the only dog-approved beach in St. Lucie County. Dogs on that beach should be on leashes so as to not dig up sea turtle nests. If your dogs do dig please refill the holes. This makes it easier for turtles to get on and off the beach.
For additional information
on sea turtle friendly beaches, please contact Ken Gioeli, Natural Resources Extension Agent, at 772-462-1660. Code Compliance questions, please contact Monica Graziani at 772-462-1553.