The Beach House (55 page)

Box 5475

Columbia, SC 29250

At the beach, there are also “turtle friendly” rules to follow:

LIGHTS OUT
! Turn off the lights at dusk that are visible from the beach! Close blinds and drapes on beach facing windows. Use motion sensor security lights instead of outdoor porch lights.

STAY AWAY FROM NESTS
. Do not touch or disturb turtle nest markers. Walking on the nest can crush the eggs below. Please keep pets on a leash away from the nests.

DON’T PICK UP THE HATCHLINGS
. Crawling to the surf on their own helps them to orient when they enter the sea. When the females mature in twenty years, they will return to nest.

FILL IN THE HOLES
. Baby turtles can navigate a footprint, but large moats around sand castles, etc.can trap them. Adult sea turtles can be trapped as well.

QUIETLY OBSERVE A NESTING TURTLE FROM A DISTANCE
. If the mother turtle is disturbed by lights or people, she may abandon her effort to nest. Stay behind the turtle so that she can’t see you and do not try to touch her.

NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY
! Both the adult turtle and the hatchling can be disoriented by the bright light. It may be tempting, but please avoid flashes from cameras or the white light of flashlights.

REMOVE BEACH AND BOAT LITTER
. Balloons, plastic bags and other nondegradable pollutants cause the deaths of turtles who try to eat them.

Thank you!

ISBN: 978-1-4268-2914-7

THE BEACH HOUSE

Copyright © 2002 by Mary Alice Kruesi.

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