Protecting our Nesting Birds

We hope you enjoy our beautiful beaches and waters. In addition to being a great place to sun and surf, our beaches are important nesting areas for sea turtles and our dunes are home to many unique plants and animals.  We hope you will help us protect our coastal habitats and wildlife.  Sea turtle season is from May through October.  Please protect these magnificent creatures and their habitat:

• It is against the law to touch or disturb nesting sea turtles, hatchlings or their nests. Protected by the Federal Endangered Species Act and the Florida Marine Turtle Protection Act.
• Avoid using flashlights (even on your phone) or flash photography while on the beach at night.
• Turn off outside patio lights or shield indoor lights from shining directly onto the beach at night. Lights disturb nesting turtles and hatchlings.
• When crossing a dune, please use designated cross overs and walkways.  Do not climb over the dunes or disturb the dune vegetation.
• 2022 Sea Turtle Handout has more information.

The Stranding Investigations Program provides 24-hour response to sick, injured and deceased marine mammals and sea turtles within the coastal waters of Southwest Florida, mainly in Sarasota and Manatee counties. The program also offers logistical support to state biologists in the verification and rescue of sick, injured or deceased manatees, an endangered species living in Florida’s coastal waters.  To report a stranded dolphin, whale, manatee or sea turtle within coastal Southwest Florida, please call our hotline: