05/02/2026
🐢 Sea Turtle Nesting season takes place from May 1st through October 31st. 🐢
The most important thing for beachgoers to understand is not to interfere with sea turtles or their nests (which are marked with a small sign and plastic tape). It is actually illegal to do so because both are protected under state law. Please be careful not to enter the marked off nest area and if you encounter a sea turtle give them plenty of space and do not touch them.
Do not shine artificial lights at or take flash photos of the sea turtles; it interferes with their sense of direction, and they will struggle to return to the sea.
⚠ Clean, Dark, Flat! ⚠
Clean: Leave nothing but footprints. Put trash or recyclables into the proper receptacle, properly dispose of food waste, and take care not to leave toys or clothes or let them escape into the water.
Dark: Mother sea turtles nest on dark beaches because it gives their hatchlings the greatest chance of survival. When the babies hatch, they follow the reflection of the night sky on the water so artificial lighting can greatly disorient them.
Flat: Mounds of sand and holes can pose a major obstruction to sea turtles. A baby sea turtle can fall into even the smallest hole, and if they are stuck there after sunrise, they are likely to die. It is not common knowledge, but sea turtles can’t walk in reverse. If a mother gets stuck, she may get exhausted and give up or lay her eggs too close to the water’s edge. Encourage kids to fill holes and knock down sandcastles when it’s time to head home. (Take a video and hashtag it to encourage others to do the same!)
For more information on Sea Turtle safety & best practices, visit https://stpetebeach.org/617/Sea-Turtles.