Thursday, November 12, 2009

Loggerhead Turtle Population Dwindling



The Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton counts the turtle nests on the beaches of Boca every year. The last 2 out of 3 years brought record low nests with nesting below 400, 14 years ago it was closer to 900. One of the main threats to the little turtles is beach construction and light pollution on the beach. The turtles instinctively go to the brightest light which is normally the moon, but turtles are confused with lights from land. Once they go the opposite way of the moon onto land, they die. Record small nests were recorded this year in South and North Carolina, although Georgia remained consistent. A push is being made to re-classify them from threatened to endangered.


Please people when your on the beach or living on the beach during turtle season, keep your lights off or windows heavily covered. These animals are amazing, we don't want to be the reason for this animals extinction do we?

-----BS








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