60% of sea turtle hatchlings get turned around by city lights. Here's Escambia's solution

Escambia County recently updated and approved its ordinance regarding the use of artificial lights at night on local beaches. While Pensacola Beach won’t see major changes, this is the first time home and business owners on Perdido Key will have to abide by lighting rules aimed at protecting coastal wildlife.

Bright, artificial lights at night are disorienting to hatchling sea turtles who rely on the light of the moon and stars to make their way to back to the sea. The glow from streetlights, buildings and even electronics like televisions can disrupt their natural navigation skills.

“The last couple years we've averaged about 30 nests on county beaches, and we know about 60% of those nests disorient every year,” said Samantha Pitts, environmental program manager for Escambia County’s Natural Resources Management Department. “Turtle hatchlings leave tracks in the sand just like adults do, so you know quickly if they've all headed to the water or if they've crawled east, west or north. Unfortunately, we do sometimes find hatchlings in the road or in parking lots.”

Last year, Escambia County's Board of County Commissioners amended the barrier island lighting ordinance to bring it in line with the state model of the ordinance, which was updated to reflect new technology and science.

The requirements include using wildlife friendly light bulbs and placing some lights at certain heights.

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The ordinance was also changed to extend the wildlife friendly lighting requirements to include Perdido Key, which previously did not have an ordinance.

Perdido Key lighting requirements take into account the protected beach mouse and require placing wildlife friendly lighting all the way around homes and buildings and not just on the side that faces the Gulf.

“We expect to see the biggest impact of the new ordinance on Perdido Key where properties that may be completely turtle friendly on the south side that face the beach are now going to have to retrofit,” Pitts said. “All of their exterior lighting to help protect beach mouth habitat, as well as those properties north of Perdido Key Drive who weren't visible from the beach and don't have to worry about turtle lighting, but now the beach mouse habitat creates an additional lighting need.”

Homes and business owners have five years to update their lighting and meet the requirements of the ordinance.

Escambia County hosted public meetings for both Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key property owners to help them with wildlife friendly lighting basics, as well as retrofit tips and information on what will be expected of them. More information is available on Escambia County’s website.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Escambia County beach lighting ordinance updated to save sea turtles