What to do if you find a hatchling Sea Turtle
Now is the time of the summer season when hatchling sea turtles emerge from their nests to search for the water and safety.
But, unshielded house lights and even bright white flashlights confuse their instincts and cause them to crawl away from the water.
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What do you do if you find a hatchling sea turtle?
on the beach in the daylight
under your house or in your yard
in the street
in the pool
Do Not
Put It In The Gulf !!! Putting it in the gulf in the daylight allows fish and crabs to see it and have a free meal.Do Not
Put It In a Bucket Of Water !!! Putting the turtle hatchling in a bucket of water triggers its instinct to swim and it will tire itself out.Do
Put it in a bucket with about an inch of DRY sand, cover the bucket with a towel, put it in the shade and call the authorities.Do
Call Bruce Drye at 927-2103 on the island, or a volunteer,or FWC at 1-888-404-3922
Do Not
Handle the Hatchling any more than necessary and wash your hands if you do handle it.Do Not
Play with it, it’s not a toy, it’s a listed species and as such only permitted individuals are allowed to do anything with it.What to do if you’re on the beach at night and see a nest disorient or hatchlings crawling away from the water.
Do Not Pick Up Hatchlings at Night!
Call the Authorities!
Do Not Walk Around Searching for the Hatchlings!
(You may be walking on hatchlings or their tracks)
Call Bruce Drye at 927-2103 or
FWC at 1-888-404-3922
Be prepared to tell the location of the hatchlings so that they can be found at night by the individuals who do the research into which lights may have caused the disorientation.