Key West Sea Turtle Nesting: Dim Your Lights

The City of Key West is asking residents and visitors to turn off outdoor lights near beaches as sea turtles nest along the shore through October 31.

Sea turtles crawl onto Key West beaches at night from April 15 through October 31 to lay eggs in the sand. After hatching, baby turtles move toward light, which should guide them to the moonlit ocean. Artificial lights from homes and businesses disorient hatchlings and lead them away from the water.

Residents living near the beach should turn off outdoor lighting at night and close shades or curtains when possible. Those unable to turn off lights completely should shield them so they don't shine toward the beach.

Key West beaches close to the public at 11 p.m. nightly. City officials say adhering to this rule is especially critical during nesting season.

Save-A-Turtle, a local monitoring organization, has documented cases where female turtles emerge from the ocean but return without laying eggs, a phenomenon observers attribute to human interference.

Development along Florida's coastline has reduced available nesting beaches over recent decades. City officials say protecting Key West's remaining nesting sites requires cooperation from residents and visitors. Human presence on beaches at night can disrupt nesting and harm hatchling survival rates.