Get a Jump on This Year's Turtle Nesting Season

Fort Myers, Florida Although Turtle Season has just ended on SW Florida beaches, Chris Russo is already thinking about the next season.

"Now is the time for beach residents and businesses to work toward helping next year's turtle hatch," says Russo, CEO of Beverly Hills Tinting Company. "We have six months to maximize our efforts to reduce light on Southwest Florida beaches for next season, and I want to work with home and business owners to make sure they are ready."

Statewide tracking of nesting turtles has been going on since 1979. While it is too early to know for sure, this year's indications seem to show fewer nests and hatchlings along SW Florida beaches than had previously been hoped.

Science tells us that turtles return year after year to nest on the same beach where they were born. Nature has programmed hatchlings to follow the reflected light of the stars and moon on nearby water, leading them to begin their long lives at sea. However, visible light on the beach can disorient hatchlings, causing them to crawl in the wrong direction and never reach the safety of the surf. Many of them end up dying of dehydration, predation, or even accidentally being stepped on or run over by cars.

"As much as SW Floridians love turtles, we humans are the number one danger to these tiny creatures," Russo warns. "Reducing the amount of 'light pollution' visible from nesting beaches is the first step toward reducing hatchling mortality. I urge people to close curtains or blinds after dark, turn off lights on properties and parking lots, and -- the best and most permanent solution -- use turtle-safe tinting on lights and windows that face the beach."

"It is my hope to work with local conservation organizations to get the word out about light pollution and turtle safety," Russo says. "I think together we could go a long way toward increasing the number of hatchlings returning all their lives to nest on our beautiful SW Florida beaches."

For information about turtle-safe window tinting, contact Chris Russo at 239-489-3838 or email bhtinc11@aol.com. Beverly Hills Tinting is located at 15130 S. Tamiami Tr, Fort Myers, FL 33908.