Prudential Realty Helping Sea Turtles Since 2001

     Starting with the installation of 25 watt yellow light bulbs in beachfront house light fixtures, Prudential Resort Realty has been helping sea turtles on St. George Island since 2001.

     In the following years, between May 1^st and October 31^st, Prudential Resort Realty would turn off their illuminated sign along Gulf Beach Drive to help reduce the amount of skyglow caused by bright commercial signs.

     In addition to turning off the lights in their sign, Prudential Resort Realty would spell out the message "Lights out for Sea Turtles" during the nesting season.

     In 2004, Prudential Resort Realty purchased red LED key chain flashlights and along with an information card about sea turtles and lights, made them available free of charge to anyone who desired to use them instead of a bright white flashlight for walking on the beach at night.

  When visitors use red LED flashlights, turtles are not frightened away when they come ashore to nest.

     In 2008, Rose Drye, President of Prudential Resort Realty and volunteer for the St. George Island Volunteer Turtlers, was awarded a grant from Prudential Financial for being a volunteer. The Prudential Financial grant money was used to purchase Turtle Safe Flashlight Stickers to be given away free of charge at local visitor centers.

     Turtle Safe Flashlight Stickers can be applied to white flashlights to prevent disturbance to nesting and hatching sea turtles.

     Now, in 2009, as Prudential Shimmering Sands Realty, www.ForgottenCoastFlorida.com , the tradition of helping sea turtles continues.

     Red LED keychain flashlights will be available for visitors Free of charge at the island office location.

     And Rose Drye, office manager, still volunteers to participate in morning nest surveys each morning, as do Prudential sales associates Steve Harris and Susan Bassett.