The pristine beaches of St. Andrews are not just a paradise for human visitors; they are a critical nesting ground for ancient marine animals. Every year, these protected shores become a vital nursery for sea turtles. As visitors, we have a unique opportunity to witness this natural wonder and a profound responsibility to protect it.
Understanding the rules of sharing the beach with these endangered creatures is essential. This guide explains the nesting season and provides the most important tips for safe and respectful observation.
Sea Turtle Nesting Season: When and What to Know
The official sea turtle nesting season along the Florida Panhandle, including St. Andrews State Park, runs from May 1 to October 31 each year. During this window, the beaches are active with nesting and hatching.
- Nesting: From May through August, female turtles (primarily Loggerheads) emerge from the Gulf, almost always at night, to dig a nest and lay their eggs.
- Hatching: The eggs incubate for about 45-60 days. This means hatchlings begin to emerge from their nests starting in July, with peak hatching activity often occurring from late August through September.
What Species Nest Here?
The most common sea turtle to nest on Panama City Beach and within St. Andrews State Park is the Loggerhead (Caretta caretta). You may also encounter nests from Green sea turtles. All sea turtles are protected by both federal and state law. It is illegal to harm, harass, or disturb them, their nests, or their hatchlings.
How You Can Help: Essential Observation Tips
The “best” way to observe sea turtles is to not interfere with them at all. Your goal is to leave no trace of your presence. Here are the most critical rules to follow during nesting season.
1. ‘Lights Out’ is the Most Important Rule
This is the single most effective thing you can do to help. Sea turtle mothers and, more importantly, hatchlings find the ocean by relying on the natural light of the moon and stars over the water.
- DO NOT use flashlights, cell phone lights, or flash photography on the beach at night. Artificial lights disorient them, causing them to crawl *away* from the ocean and toward buildings or roads.
- If you are staying in a beachfront property, turn off all exterior lights and close your blinds or curtains after dark.
- Only approved, red-filtered “turtle-safe” lights should be used, but the best practice is to use no lights at all.
2. Leave No Trace: Keep the Beach Clean and Flat
What you leave behind can be a deadly obstacle.
- Fill in all holes and knock down sandcastles before you leave the beach for the day. Hatchlings are very small and can easily fall into a hole or be blocked by a sandcastle, trapping them on the beach where they become vulnerable.
- Remove all your belongings (chairs, tents, umbrellas, toys) from the beach every night. These items can trap or block nesting mothers and hatchlings.
- Properly dispose of all trash. Plastic bags and other debris can be mistaken for food (like jellyfish) by sea turtles.
3. Keep Your Distance (Do Not Disturb)
If you are lucky enough to encounter a sea turtle, it is a privilege. Give her space.
- Stay at least 50 feet (15 meters) away from a nesting turtle or hatchlings.
- NEVER touch the turtle. Stay quiet and still.
- Do not block her path to or from the ocean. If you see a nesting female, it’s best to stay back and let her complete her process, which can take over an hour.
4. Do Not “Help” Hatchlings to the Water
It may be tempting to pick up a hatchling, but you must let it make the journey on its own. This crawl from the nest to the sea is critical; it imprints the location’s magnetic field, allowing them to return to the same beach decades later to nest.
- Do not touch them or put them in the water.
- You can help by keeping predators (like gulls) at a distance and ensuring all artificial lights in the area are off.
What to Do If You Find a Turtle in Distress
If you see a sea turtle that is injured, sick, or dead, or if you witness someone disturbing a turtle or a marked nest, do not intervene.
Instead, please call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) 24-hour Wildlife Alert Hotline:
1-888-404-FWCC (1-888-404-3922)
On a mobile phone, you can also dial *FWC or #FWC.
By following these simple guidelines, you are playing an active role in the conservation of these magnificent creatures and ensuring St. Andrews beaches remain a safe haven for generations to come.
