Turtle-nesting season begins today

Starting tonight, it’s lights out for the turtles.

But turtles have gotten off to an early crawl: Although today is the first official day of nesting season, Mote Marine Laboratory reported on Monday, April 30 that already three nests were documented, with one each on Lido Beach, Casey Key and Venice. Additionally, there was one false crawl on Lido Beach and two on Casey Key.

For the next six months, you’ll see Longboat Key Turtle Watch volunteers and Mote Marine patrols walking the beaches each morning in search of nests, which they mark with wooden stakes.

Today through Oct. 31, any white light that is visible from the water’s edge is prohibited. All lights that are visible from the beach should be turned off, shielded or replaced with low-wavelength lighting that turtles can’t detect to avoid disorientations.

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected].