Educational

Remember how we moms are always (always!) saying, “Turn off the light when you leave the room!”? Well, now we have even more proof that we're right. If you won't do it for us, for the sake of the household budget or for the environment, do it for the sea turtles.

That's right, sea turtles.

The Alabama Gulf Coast is home to several species of sea turtles, including some species that are threatened. It turns out, one of the biggest threats comes from a seemingly innocent source: artificial light. Scientists call it “coastal light pollution.”

Female turtles return to the beach where they were born to nest and lay their eggs. Bright lights on beaches can cause the turtles to become disoriented, leading them to drown in swimming pools, wander into traffic or fall victim to predators.

Hatchlings count on the lights of nature to guide them from their nests to the ocean. For the tiny critters, it's a long trek filled with peril, and that peril is compounded when bright lights confuse little guys.

Scientists from Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge and lots of volunteers work in the local Share the Beach program to make sure that sea turtle nests remain undisturbed and that hatchlings have a save trip to the Gulf of Mexico. Everyone can help by following guidelines for lighting. It's good for the earth, and it's good for the turtles.

How about a family-friendly attraction that teaches about preservation, conservation and being a good steward of nature? Check out the Alabama Sea Turtle “Share the Beach” volunteer program. From May through October, Alabama's beaches are home to female turtles who make nests and lay eggs. Volunteers make sure the threatened and endangered species are able to nest safely. They patrol beaches looking for nests, share nest-watching duties, speak to groups about turtles and make sure that, when it is time, as many hatchlings as possible safely make the trek from the beach to the surf. While visiting, families can look for signs of nests. Back home, parents or grandparents can join the Adopt-A-Nest program so youngsters can track the progress of the nest and hatchlings they are helping support.