Be beach smart and keep wildlife safe!

The holiday weekend is upon us.  As we prepare to spend time in the sun and sand, please be aware of your natural surroundings.  Many different species, including threatened species, are nesting right now and we don’t want to upset their natural habitats.  This information is good for any coastal state where shorebirds and turtles are nesting.  Go out, have a good and safe time but please stay away from nesting areas.  Make sure you leave any areas you visit the same way you found it.  Better yet, if you find an area where someone left trash, please pick it up and pack it out. For more information on how to be beach smart, keep reading!  Enjoy your 4th of July holiday!

“As people make plans to go to the beach for the Independence Day holiday, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is reminding the public to help protect beach-nesting shorebirds and sea turtles by giving them space and keeping personal fireworks off the beach. Please respect shorebird and sea turtle areas that are posted to protect these vulnerable species, but remember not all nests are posted.”

“Shorebirds on Florida’s Atlantic and Gulf coasts are nesting now, with many of them watching over flightless chicks.  Loud noises can cause adults to flush off their nests and tiny chicks to become separated from parents, leaving them vulnerable to predators, the elements and getting stepped on by beachgoers.”

“July is also a busy time for sea turtle nesting on Florida beaches, and female sea turtles can become disoriented and fail to lay their eggs if disturbed by bright lights, loud noises and people getting too close to them.”

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