LIGHTS OUT! MAY-OCTOBER 10:00PM-6:00AM Sea Turtles need a clear dark path beyond the high tide line at night. When leaving the beach at the end of the day, visitors are asked to knock down the sandcastles you built, fill in the holes you dug, take your trash off the beach and remove tents and chairs. When you go for your nightly beach walk, please leave the flashlights off, and if you should happen upon a sea turtle, do not approach as this will disrupt her egg-laying process. When the nest hatches, the hatchlings are just a few inches long and are drawn to the sea by celestial light, but can be disoriented by artificial light. Beaufort County’s lighting ordinance requires no light be visible from barrier island beaches, thus the Loggerhead Patrol’s reminder, “lights off on the beach.” Violations subject to $100 fine and property confiscation. As of July 6th, 2021, there are currently 57 nests on Fripp Island. You can get more information on the South Carolina DNR website: http://www.seaturtle.org/
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