Sea
Turtle Lighting
General
Information about Sea Turtles and Lights
For
millions of years female sea turtles have been coming ashore to lay their
eggs on beaches. In the past the hatchling turtles were guided to the
ocean by an instinct to travel away from the dark silhouettes of the dune
vegetation and toward the brightest horizon which was the light from the
sky reflecting off the ocean. In present times however, many coastal areas
are highly populated. There are many artificial lights near the beach that
can deter females from nesting and disorient hatchling sea turtles. The
hatchlings travel inland, toward the artificial lights, where they often
die from dehydration, are preyed upon by fire ants and ghost crabs, or
sometimes crawl onto the road where they are run over by cars.
Disorientation
Events in Florida
For years 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2003
Sea
Turtle Protection Ordinances in Florida
Adopted by Counties and Municipalities
Laws
and Regulations Protecting Sea Turtles
Solutions
to Decrease Light-Pollution Affecting Sea Turtles
Other
Resources
Kid’s
Corner
Word
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