Page 10 - Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens - April '21

Page 10, Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens
Sea Turtle Nesting Season Returns To Palm Beach

County With ‘Respect The Locals’ Campaign

Researchers at nesting site. Also, hatchlings can often be lured or disoriented conservation of ocean ecosystems with a focus on threatened and
Loggerhead Marinelife by light emitted by fires. endangered sea turtles. The center features an on-site hospital,
Center (LMC) are “It’s apparent that the temporary beach closures from last research laboratory, educational exhibits and aquariums, and
keeping a watchful eye season led to fewer obstructions and human interactions for also operates the Juno Beach Pier, which hosts world-class
for the return of sea turtle nesting sea turtles,” said Dr. Justin Perrault, LMC’s director of angling and sightseeing. Situated on one of the world’s most
nesting season in Palm research. “However, we can’t rely on closures to do the work important sea turtle nesting beaches, Loggerhead Marinelife
Beach County and have for us. Rather, it’s important for us to follow proven methods Center is open daily and hosts over 350,000 guests free-of-
kicked off its “Respect that contribute to a successful nesting season. ” charge each year. The center’s conservation team works with
the Locals” awareness During periods of heavier wind or wave action on Florida’s 90 local and international organizations across six continents
campaign. Between coastline, sea turtle eggs may become exposed. LMC advises to form partnerships and share conservation initiatives and best
March 1 and Oct. 31, sea beachgoers to leave exposed eggs and nests untouched; practices that are core to its mission of ocean conservation. The
turtles nest on the 9.5- disoriented hatchlings should be brought to the center’s 24- center is expanding and has launched its Waves of Progress
mile stretch of beach that hour hatchling rescue cooler, which is located at the entrance capital expansion campaign, designed to accelerate and amplify
LMC monitors, which of the center. Threatened and endangered hatchlings should be LMC’s conservation and education impact. When complete,
spans from the northern transported with extreme care, in a bucket with damp sand and the facility will offer one of the world’s most advanced and
Palm Beach County no water, to prevent accidental drowning. unique experiences for guests and scientific partners. For more
line to the northern Morning surveys (Jennifer If you discover a sick, injured or stranded sea turtle, please information, visit www.marinelife.org or call (561) 627-8280.
boundary of John D. Reilly, LMC research operations call Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
MacArthur Beach manager) or LMC’s Sea Turtle Stranding Hotline at (561) 603-0211.
State Park. Last year, Want to help protect nesting and hatching sea turtles this season?
the center documented Use the #respectthelocals and #loggerheadmarinelifecenter
16,935 sea turtle nests hashtags to keep social media users informed and engaged this
totaling 286 leatherback, nesting season. Follow LMC’s social media and website for
13,059 loggerhead and Respect the Locals information, materials, and merchandise.
3,590 green sea turtle Loggerhead Marinelife Center
nests. Additionally, it’s Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) is a nonprofit sea turtle
estimated that 800,000 research, rehabilitation and educational institution that promotes Nesting leatherback (storm) Loggerhead hatchling
hatchlings were
produced from the 2020
nesting season alone. Experience Dentistry with a Woman’s Touch
H ow ever , the
previous nesting season
had some advantages Hatchling emergence
due to temporary beach Cosmetic & Comprehensive Restorative Dentistry
closures. According to LMC data, loggerhead nesting success
on Juno Beach was 60 percent when they first arrived in April State of the Art & Same Day Restorations
during closures, whereas nesting success dropped to 48 percent
when beaches reopened. In short, the data showed that there Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen Sedation Available
were a smaller proportion of false crawls during the shutdown,
which is when nesting females crawl onto the beach and return
to the water without laying eggs. Joanne Green, D.D.S.
As mothers return, it’s especially important to remind
beachgoers of best practices during the season. This includes: 10887 N. Military Trail, Suite 6
• Keeping your distance: Never approach or touch a nesting Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
sea turtle. Keep your distance, always stay out of the line of sight,
remain quiet and keep all lights off (including flash photography (561) 622-2815 • www.joannegreendds.com
and cell phones). Touching, prodding or shining lights may cause
her to not lay eggs or disturb her and affect how well she covers Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry - Cum Laude
and camouflages the nest. Hospital of the University of Penn - General Practice Residency Training
• Letting hatchlings emerge: If you see hatchlings on the Harvard Dental School - Former Instructor
beach, allow them to crawl to the ocean on their own. Do not Boston Brigham and Women’s Dental Group - Staff Dentist
remove or dig hatchlings out of a nest. Removing sand above
the nest will make it more difficult for the hatchlings to emerge.
• Turning off lights: Keep lights off at your house while
not in use and close your blinds at night to avoid adding to the
overall glow. Sea turtles crawl towards the brightest horizon, and
artificial lighting can cause them to disorient.
• Filling in your holes: Fill in all holes and knock over sand
castles so that nesting turtles and hatchlings do not fall into them
and are not hindered as they crawl on the beach.
Do Not
• Leave it behind: Remove obstacles such as beach chairs,
tables, water-sport equipment and umbrellas before dark. A
turtle nests every 3 to 4 feet. Therefore, there are high chances
of puncturing sea turtle nests or eggs when umbrellas are staked
into the ground.
• Dig holes: Avoid digging holes or using shovels in order to
not interfere with incubating sea turtle nests.
• Be a litterbug: Do not leave any trash behind. Trash can
hinder nesting and hatchling turtles from crawling to and from
the beach. Also, sea turtles may accidentally ingest trash left
behind.
• Release balloons: Don’t release balloons, they travel far
distances and can be eaten by sea turtles and other marine
organisms.
• Host bonfires: Bonfires may be accidentally situated on a

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