Sea turtle nesting season is officially underway on beaches in the Florida Panhandle! Turtles will lay their eggs from May through September. Did you know that a female turtle may nest several times in a season? Baby turtles hatch after 45-60 days; typically, a nest contains 50-150 turtles. Only 1 in 1,000 hatchlings make it to adulthood which makes limiting the human impact on their numbers especially crucial; they already have to fight through all kinds of natural predators to make it to the ocean! 
Below is a list of some ways visitors can help the sea turtle hatchlings make it safely to the sea:
- Turn off your outdoor lights if you live close to the beach. Turtles come ashore at night in the dark; any bright lights along the shoreline from condos, restaurants, homes, or even walking along the beach with a bright flashlight discourages them from coming ashore. Additionally, hatchlings can end up wandering towards the lights rather than the sea.
- Volunteer to walk the beach to find, mark, and protect turtle nests. These volunteers are called turtlers.
- Leave No Trace; remove chairs, umbrellas, trash, and other beach equipment each night to help the mama turtles and hatchlings a clear, safe path.
- If you dig a hole at the beach, fill it in! Turtles can get trapped or injured in holes.
- Education! Learn about sea turtles and share your knowledge with others. Many organizations educate on sea turtles and their nesting habits. Consider visiting the St. George Island Visitor’s Center or the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center.