Critical Information on Cold Stunned Turtles

What do do?

• Move the turtle above the high-tide line
• Cover it with dry seaweed, grass or a blanket to protect the turtle from wind
• Mark the spot with beach debris or any decent marker
• If the turtle is already in your home be sure it is covered with a cool damp towel.  Be sure to warm the turtle very, very slowly and call the following number ASAP
• Call the Turtle Stranding Network at Call AMITW @ 941 778 5638, Emergency Moble Line 941 232 1405 or local law enforcement.
• If possible, note time, tide, wind direction and speed, and water temperature

Beach Etiquette

How You Can Help Sea Turtles

Nesting sea turtles depend on dark quiet beaches to reproduce successfully. Today these turtles are endangered in part because they must compete with tourists, businesses and coastal residents to use the beach. Man-made coastal development may result in artificial lighting on the beach that discourages female sea turtles from nesting and can disorient hatchlings causing them to wander away from the beach where they often die of dehydration, predation or even from being  run over if they cross roads.

Minimize lighting visible from sea turtle nesting beaches.  Use Turtle Safe lighting. For more information go to:   This link

• Do not approach or position yourself around an adult turtle coming out of the water to nest. You may startle her and she may return to the water without nesting.
• Avoid using flashlights or flash cameras. Lights disrupt or disorient nesting turtles and emerging hatchlings.
• Avoid hatchlings emerging from a nest. They are small and easily stepped on in the dark.
• Do not drive any unauthorized vehicles on the beach at night.
• If you find a live hatchling on the shore call AMITW @ 778 5638.  Pick up litter, fill in holes and never leave furniture or debris laying on the beach
• Adopt-a-Hatchling or Adopt-a-Nest through www.islandturtles.com to help raise awareness.
•  Turn off or shield lights visible from nesting beaches.
• If disoriented hatchlings are found away from the sea, do not put them back in the sea. Call AMITW @ 941 778 5638 or local law enforcement.

If you find a hatchling:  
Make note of the location you found it at.
Put it in a container on damp sand (not in water or air conditioning) Cover container with a cloth. Call one of the numbers listed below.

If you find an exposed Nest:
Do not attempt to collect the eggs yourself, call one of the agencies listed below.

What to report: Dead or injured sea turtles, exposed eggs, unmarked nests· AMITW  @ 941-778-5638 or  emergency cell # 232-1405 · FFWCC @ 800-342-5367  Or any island law enforcement agency. If you find anyone harassing a sea turtle or disturbing a nest, call your local law enforcement.