When visiting Alabama's Beaches, keep these tips in mind and Share the Beach.
How You Can Help Save the Turtles
Avoid Using Bright Lights on Beaches at Night
Stop by one of our welcome centers to get stickers to cover your phone flashlight or hand-held flashlight to help avoid disorienting the turtles that are nesting at night. Flashlights and flash photography can cause nesting sea turtles to become confused.
Turn off any balcony or outside lights that aren't turtle-friendly (red/amber shielded lights), and close curtains and blinds to prevent inside lights from shining onto the beach.
Leave Only Footprints
One of the easiest ways to help nesting sea turtles is to keep our beaches clean. Always pick up all of your belongings and trash after a day at the beach and remember to leave only footprints. Sea turtles may get caught in discarded items left on the beach, which can deter them from reaching their destination. Please note that our local beach patrol will discard any items left on the beach before sunrise or after sunset.
How Does Share the Beach Help Sea Turtles?
It protects and promotes the livelihood and habitat of sea turtles along the Alabama Coast. This program works to mitigate human-related impacts on these creatures, monitor nests and hatchlings, and promote the conservation of sea turtles in the state through public outreach education. During hatching season, May through October, hundreds of Share the Beach volunteers work to protect these sea turtles and ensure the safety of their nests. Share the Beach follows US Fish and Wildlife Service's protocols under the endangered species recovery permit. Those who volunteer to patrol the Beach, educate the public and school groups, conduct late-night observations, and assist with supply and equipment preparations.
By doing your part and supporting the efforts put forth by Share the Beach, you are increasing their chances of survival.
If you're a Gulf Shores or Orange Beach resident, you can volunteer with Share the Beach during the nesting season (May 1 through October 31). Visit our responsible tourism page to learn more ways to help sustainability efforts.