Perdido Key, Fla. – (OBA) – Perdido Key celebrated its first sea turtle hatch of the season. Seventy hatchlings were confirmed to have entered the Gulf of Mexico, despite being disoriented by artificial lighting, according to Escambia County Marine Resources.

The hatching occurred on Perdido Key on Friday, Aug. 2nd.

Nearly 60% of all turtle hatchlings were disoriented by land-based lights, which can cause them to wander away from the Gulf of Mexico. Hatchlings that don't reach the water quickly risk dehydration, starvation, and predation.

Disoriented hatchlings can also stray onto busy roads, garages, and swimming pools. Permitted volunteers are trained in disoriented hatchling response and recovery. Naturally dark beaches are the best assurance for ensuring hatchling turtles make it to the water where they belong.

There are still 25 nests on county beaches, with August and September being peak hatchling season. Residents and visitors are urged to follow guidelines to protect the hatchlings and other coastal wildlife.

Guidelines for protecting sea turtles include:

• Lights Out: Both hatchling and nesting turtles need dark beaches to find the Gulf of Mexico. Use red flashlights on the beach at night and turn off beach-facing lights.
• Leave Only Footprints: Remove all furniture and toys from the beach when you're done for the day. This includes hammocks, tents, canopies, chairs, toys, and sports equipment.
• If You Dig It, Fill It: Large holes, trenches, and moats create dangerous obstacles for hatchlings. Fill in holes after digging them and flatten sandcastles when finished building them.
• If you see a nest hatching or encounter hatchlings on the beach, stay a respectful distance away and call Escambia County Marine Resources at (850) 426-1257. For more information about sea turtles in Escambia County, visit www.myescambia.com/seaturtles. All sea turtle work by Escambia County was done under Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission permits #032A, #202, #272, and #273.