Turtles in Danger

Light pollution is also bad for other nocturnal animals. Female sea turtles come ashore at night and lay their eggs in the sand.

Beach hotels want people to enjoy the outdoors at night. They light up the beaches. But turtles do not feel safe on brightly lighted beaches. They will not come to shore to lay their eggs.

Turtles must be allowed to nest each year. There are only seven species of sea turtles, and all of them are endangered. It is important for them to lay eggs.

Hatchlings need a dark night sky, too, just as the female turtles do. When baby turtles hatch, they need to crawl to the water. Starlight and moonlight shining on the water pull them toward the sea. Light coming from land leads them the wrong way. As a result, the turtles wander into streets and parking lots and get lost. There, they risk getting run over by cars.

Sea turtle hatchlings crawl toward the water.