RSS
We live in a time when the environment appears threatened from many directions. But it’s also a time when people increasingly are paying attention to how they can protect the natural world. Residents and visitors in greater Fort Lauderdale have the opportunity to help in a highly unusual way – and at the same time, to experience something most folks see only on an Animal Planet documentary. From March through September, sea turtles nest on beaches up and down Broward County in an annual ritual that’s very important to the survival of this endangered species. Florida’s central and lower east coast is considered the second most vital nesting area in the world for loggerhead turtles. Leatherback, green and hawksbill sea turtles also lay their eggs on the sands around Fort Lauderdale.
It’s possible to take a late-night excursion to witness the sea turtles’ nesting behavior. In my next blog, I’ll tell you where to go and how to do this so you don’t harm the animals. It’s essential that none of us just blunder on to the beaches at night looking for the closest turtle’s nest. We can prevent mother turtles from laying their eggs and confuse newborn turtles to the point where they never find the water. The experts tell us that bright lights and flash photography disorient hatchlings, for example. It turns out that baby turtles need all the help they can get. If they make it from their nests out to sea, scientists estimate, only one out of 1,000 will survive to adulthood.
Sea turtles have somehow endured the changes on earth since the age of dinosaurs. They’ve even handled our human population boom, our condos and street lights and automobiles, but they are threatened. Leatherback, green and hawksbill sea turtles are on the endangered species list and loggerheads are under serious threat. All of them are protected by both Florida and federal statutes. Violators can be punished with fines as high as $100,000 and up to a year in prison. I’m telling you all this because I feel it’s important to understand how fragile these creatures are. And how seriously the authorities take the turtles’ protection. But there are environmentally sensitive ways to enjoy the turtles too. On Friday, I’ll have all the details about how you can do that this summer.
It’s possible to take a late-night excursion to witness the sea turtles’ nesting behavior. In my next blog, I’ll tell you where to go and how to do this so you don’t harm the animals. It’s essential that none of us just blunder on to the beaches at night looking for the closest turtle’s nest. We can prevent mother turtles from laying their eggs and confuse newborn turtles to the point where they never find the water. The experts tell us that bright lights and flash photography disorient hatchlings, for example. It turns out that baby turtles need all the help they can get. If they make it from their nests out to sea, scientists estimate, only one out of 1,000 will survive to adulthood.
Sea turtles have somehow endured the changes on earth since the age of dinosaurs. They’ve even handled our human population boom, our condos and street lights and automobiles, but they are threatened. Leatherback, green and hawksbill sea turtles are on the endangered species list and loggerheads are under serious threat. All of them are protected by both Florida and federal statutes. Violators can be punished with fines as high as $100,000 and up to a year in prison. I’m telling you all this because I feel it’s important to understand how fragile these creatures are. And how seriously the authorities take the turtles’ protection. But there are environmentally sensitive ways to enjoy the turtles too. On Friday, I’ll have all the details about how you can do that this summer.
posted by LauderBLOGGER at 9:42 AM
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home