Articles
Evolution
Facts
Nesting
Death by light and Debris
Death by Light
We do not normally think of artificial lights as being a form of pollution. But the seaside lights of homes and businesses left on at night during nesting season can be deadly to sea turtles. Once hatchlings emerge from their nests, they must get to the ocean as quickly as possible to avoid predators.
They seem to find the sea by moving toward the light that is reflected off the water at night. This worked very well until people started using artificial lights on the beaches at night. Now when a hatchling scrambles toward a light on the beach, it may be heading for someone’s porch light, a campfire, or a highway. These hatchlings that travel away from the water after they emerge will almost always die.
Death by Debris
The next time you throw away a plastic bag, toy, balloon, or Styrofoam cup, think about where it may end up. Plastic trash that finds its way to the sea is often mistaken for food by turtles. Plastic bags resemble jellyfish, one of many turtle’s favorite foods. Once eaten, the plastic clogs the turtle’s digestive system, preventing the passage of food. The turtle may starve to death as a result.
As time passes, the plastic stuck in the stomach can begin to break down, releasing toxic substances that harm the turtle. The next time you walk along a seaside boardwalk or a beach, count how many cigarette butts you see. Though they look small and harmless, they are not. When turtles eat them, they clog their digestive systems.
