Multiple sea turtle false crawls due to human distraction discovered by Orange Beach, Gulf Shores volunteers

BY RUTH MAYO
Reporting Intern
ruth@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 7/12/24

Walking the beach at night and hunting for ghost crabs along the shore is fun but can be filled with excitement and bright flashlights. Two things that are sure to discourage nesting sea turtles on …

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Multiple sea turtle false crawls due to human distraction discovered by Orange Beach, Gulf Shores volunteers

Posted

Walking the beach at night and hunting for ghost crabs along the shore is fun but can be filled with excitement and bright flashlights. Two things that are sure to discourage nesting sea turtles on the Alabama coast.


A photo that has recently widely circulated on the Alabama Ecological Services Field Office's (AESF) Facebook page showed how crowds shining lights can deter a sea turtle from nesting and laying her eggs. Shannon Holbrook, fish and wildlife biologist who works for AESF under U.S. Fish and Wildlife, said the post was shared to educate visitors and locals alike about sea turtle sighting protocol.

"Some people probably have no idea we have sea turtles," Holbrook said. "They don't even know that the lights are bad."

The photos show examples of recent false crawls, which is when adult turtle tracks are found in the sand circling back to the water without a nest or eggs being laid.

With sea turtle nesting season in full swing, it's important to remember what to do in the event of a sea turtle sighting. Chandra Wright, director of environmental and educational outreach at the Lodge & Learning Campus at Gulf State Park, said a good rule of thumb is to turn off any flashlights, report the sighting to Share the Beach at 1-866-SEA-TURTLE and stay well out of the way while the mama turtle does her thing.

Wright said that when explaining to people who are unfamiliar with the area, she often compares sea turtle encounters to encountering a deer in the woods.

"If a bunch of people crowd around and make a lot of noise and shine bright lights at a deer, it's going to run away," Wright said. "It's the same with sea turtles."

The three kinds of sea turtles that commonly nest on Alabama beaches are loggerheads, kemp ridley's and green sea turtles, all of which are protected under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, which means it is illegal to take, touch or even interfere with federally protected sea turtles. A violation can result in up to a $100,000 fine.

Wright said loggerheads are the primary species found nesting in the area with a preference to nest and hatch at night.

Wright also said that if a mama turtle were to get discouraged and head back toward the water, there is a chance she could drop her eggs in the Gulf, resulting in a lost nest. The mama turtle could also return to shore, but obstacles can stop a turtle from reaching a desired location to build her nest.

"Keep the beach flat and dark at night," Holbrook said, "because the sea turtles aren't built for land. When they crawl on the sand, they don't see the holes or anything that could be in their way."

Holbrook went on to mention how it is important to remove any items from the beach at night, and if a flashlight is necessary it is important to use a red filter or a red flashlight. Red flashlights can be found at various locations on the island, including Gulf State Park's store and Souvenir City locations. Red flashlight information can also be found on www.redturtlelight.com.

"We want everyone to use the beach," Holbrook said, "but the sea turtles just need the beach in the nighttime, so let's do what we can to let them have it."

Sea turtles lay 100-110 eggs per nest with each turtle laying two-five nests per season, according to The Lodge's Wright. This may sound like a lot, but with predators and obstacles in the Gulf and beyond, only a small fraction of baby sea turtles will make it to maturity.

The Alabama Coastal Foundation's (ACF) Share the Beach volunteer program works to educate the public and school groups, patrol the beaches early in the morning and conduct late-night nest observations. Wright has been a volunteer with Share the Beach since 2011.

Wright said, "Once you get to see the hatchlings run to Gulf, you're usually hooked!"

Share the Beach has all the volunteers they need this season, but be sure to check out the volunteer section on Alabama Coastal Foundation's website for opportunities and more information. Donations are accepted by ACF year-round. Share the Beach offers donation opportunities to Adopt-A-Nest or sponsor a hatchling on www.joinacf.org/donate.