We saw some just-hatched loggerheads on the beach. What do we do?

Question

There are tourists shining flashlights, which seems to disorient them, and they start going back up the beach. What can we do?

Any references?

Answer 1

The best thing to do is tell the tourists that their flashlights are making the turtles become disoriented, and ask if they'll turn them off. If they don't, you can also catch the baby turtles and place them in the water. In parts of Australia where sea turtles hatch, it's well known that newly-hatched turtles will go back up the beach to lights if they are brighter than the light being reflected off the ocean.

Here is a reference to the way it is happening in Florida as well:

"Development and storms along Florida's coast have not been good for sea turtles, Kraus said.

Each new house and condominium on the beach brings more light pollution, which can be deadly for baby sea turtles. And hurricanes strip coastal vegetation, which acts as a light screen.

When turtles hatch, they instinctively head toward an area with the most light, which before development was the open horizon.

Lights from homes along the beach disorient turtles, giving them less chance of survival.

"Turtles can walk down the beach endlessly until they are picked up by birds or eaten by fire ants and crabs or die from exhaustion or heat," Kraus said. "Others get into parking lots or pools where they are run over or drown.""

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2006/oct/...

Hope that helps.

Answer 2

all you can do is try and get them to leave and try and explain that they are hurting them, other then that maybe call an animal rescue and maybe they can get the tourists to leave , good luck

Answer 3

A flashlight may be used at the water's edge if you come across a disoriented hatching in progress. Keep the light at least 5 feet above the water and turn it off periodically. This will lead the remaining hatchlings in the right direction, while the

surrounding area is searched for lost turtles.

If disoriented hatchlings require further holding,

please contact the Marine Turtle Program Coordinator for transfer to an authorized staff.

Answer 4

keep seaguls away and let them find the ocean

keep the tourists away and let them find a hotel

Answer 5

take as many as possible to the waters edge,Being very carefull not to step on any.