8/2/2019 Five Things You Can Do to Save Sea Turtles

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1. Turn Out Lights Visible From the Beach!Sea turtle hatchlings use light and reections rom the moon to nd their way to the water atnight. Articial lighting conuses the hatchlings and causes them to head inland instead oout to sea putting them in dangerous situations which can lead to death. Articial lights alsodiscourage adult emales rom nesting on the beach. Short o turning of your lights, you canalso take measures to shield, redirect and lower the intensity o the lights on your property.

2. Reduce the Amount o Garbage You Produce and Clean Up Trash

You See On the Beach.Sea turtles can become tangled in plastic and trash both on the shore and in the water.Discarded items such as shing lines, balloons and plastic bags may also be conused orood and eaten by sea turtles, oten resulting in injury or death.

3. Be Aware o Sea Turtle Nesting Areas and Avoid Nesting and

Hatching Turtles.

Sea turtles are cute, and thereore tempting to touch and observe but ashlights andpeople disturb turtles when they are nesting, or trying to nest, on the beach. Make sureto give nesting areas plenty o space, and do not disturb emales as they emerge rom theocean looking or a place to nest. Also be conscious o where nesting areas are so that youcan avoid trampling the hatchlings as they head to the water.

4. Reduce the Amount o Chemicals You Use.Te chemicals you use on your lawn and in your home can actually wash into the coastalwaters killing plants and animals. It is very important to properly dispose o toxicchemicals and, even better, nd alternative products such as biodegradable solutions.

5. Volunteer!Tere are countless ways in which you can make a positive diference in the lives o seaturtles. Organize a clean-up day with your riends and clear the beach o litter, give apresentation to your neighborhood or local school on things they can do to save seaturtles, and most importantly, talk to others about what they can do to make sure theyare not putting these important creatures in danger.

www.deenders.org

5 Tings You Can Doo Save Sea urtles

Making a positive dierence or sea turtles in your area is as simple asollowing the fve easy steps we have outlined below.