Residents in Florida towns have to close their blinds during sea turtle season.
There are between 40,000 to 84,000 sea turtles on Florida beaches. In the middle of the night, the turtles dig holes in the sand and lay their eggs.
Thousands of hatchlings die annually because of artificial lights, which is why people are urged to turn their lights off.
There are five sea turtle species in Florida and all are in danger. The green, leatherback, hawksbill, and Kemp's ridley turtles are listed as threatened by the federal government.
Sea turtles, eggs, and hatchlings are protected from being harmed or killed.
The baby turtles use the natural light from the sky to navigate. Artificial lights can cause turtles to crawl towards them instead of to the water.
Hatchlings that walk toward artificial light can be hit by a car, killed by a predator, or die from the effects of the outside elements.
After being confused by the artificial light, adult sea turtles get exhausted and dehydrated. The female turtle can return to the water to lay her eggs.
Property owners who live on the beach should follow the guidelines.
To keep it low, the fixture must be mounted as low as possible.
Lamps/bulbs must only emit long wavelength light, which is amber, orange, or red, for long.
The fixture must be completely downward directed to shield it from the beach.
The lights need to be turned off after 9 p.m. so beaches don't get dark. If residents can't see their shadow while standing on the beach on a moonless night, then there is too much light behind them and they need to get new light bulbs that are compliant.
The turtles are not disturbed by visitors who are on the beach.
Travelers can book sea turtle walks, where they can see the turtle's nest, but it is not certain.
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