Beachfront Lighting Threatens Endangered Species

Florida beaches host the largest gathering of nesting sea turtles in the United States. Adult female sea turtles emerge from the ocean to deposit eggs in sand nests and later, tiny hatchlings surface from their nests and rush to the ocean.

Nearly all of this activity takes place under cover of darkness, these ancient animals have relied upon natural light which is now often disrupted by the addition of artificial lighting.

These endangered creatures are at risk of extinction because of a factor marine experts call "sky glow". Sky glow is the light produced by artificial outdoor or decorative lighting, which shines light out or up. It is the glow seen above cities and towns that can be viewed from a distance. This light threatens adult female sea turtles because they are extremely sensitive to light and may become disoriented, returning to the water without nesting.

Marine conservationist and manager of the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton Dr. Kirk Rusenko said, in the backyard of beach front condos lands, sea turtles which leave nests with up to 100 eggs below the sands. Once these turtles are ready to hatch they feel the cool of the night on the sand and emerge to scatter into the water.

The sky glow disorients hatchlings, on a natural beach, hatchlings use the reflection of the moon on the water to give them direction. In highly developed areas illumination from street lamps, buildings, and other artificial lighting often causes hatchlings to go towards this light instead of the into the ocean. Conservationists are able to record the tracks of the baby turtles, after a nest has hatched providing evidence of light pollution when tracks don't lead directly to the ocean. This puts hatchlings at risk of being eaten by predators such as raccoons and foxes, or harmed by cars, pedestrians, or the sun. Today, only one in 1,000 sea turtle hatchlings will make it to adulthood.

Sea turtle expert, Dianne Behringer of the Broward County Extension Education division said, "Cases where hatchlings have been lead to their death into the flames of unattended fires are testimony to the strong attraction hatchlings have for light."