🐢 Sea Turtle Nesting Season at Pier Point South: What You Need to Know
As we welcome the warmer months in St. Augustine, we also enter a cherished and critical time of year—sea turtle nesting season. From May 1st through October 31st, our beautiful beaches become nesting grounds for several species of sea turtles, including the Loggerhead and Green sea turtles. Pier Point South, located directly on the oceanfront, plays a key role in protecting these endangered creatures.
From May 1 to Oct. 31, St. Johns County staff will close vehicular beach access gates at 7:30 p.m. and reopen them at 8 a.m. to allow nesting sea turtles to have a safe beach throughout the night.
Here’s what every resident and guest should know to help keep our shoreline turtle-friendly:
🌙 Lights Out for Turtles
Artificial lighting can disorient both nesting females and hatchlings. To ensure their safe journey:
- Turn off balcony and porch lights facing the beach by 9:00 PM.
- Close blinds or curtains in oceanfront units after dark.
- Avoid flashlights, phone lights, or camera flashes on the beach at night.
🚫 Beach Furniture and Obstacles
Every night counts for sea turtles. Leaving items on the beach can block turtles from nesting or trap hatchlings trying to reach the ocean.
- Remove all beach chairs, umbrellas, and gear from the beach by sunset.
- Fill in holes and flatten sandcastles before leaving the beach to prevent entrapment.
🐾 Keep Wildlife and Pets Safe
- No dogs are allowed on the beach in nesting zones during sea turtle season.
- Refrain from disturbing marked nests or approaching sea turtles—it’s illegal and harmful.
🛑 Report Nesting Activity
If you see a turtle nesting, hatching, or an unmarked nest, do not disturb it. Instead, contact the St. Johns County Marine Turtle Program at:
📞 (904) 209-3740
