ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Sea turtle nesting season begins May 1, which means the sea turtle trackers are returning to the coasts of Pinellas and Manatee counties. 

Before May 1, it is important for hotels and beachside property owners to switch incandescent and white light bulbs to a shade of orange or amber to protect the nesting turtles.  

In Pinellas County, there is no countywide ordinance regarding light fixtures for nesting season, so how much it is enforced varies city to city.

Longtime sea turtle tracker Joe Widlansky says they work with property owners to make sure they are in compliance because they have seen a number of issues over the years. 

“The lights just confuse the turtles. I’ve had baby turtles in these garages,” he said, pointing at a resort parking garage. 

For those visiting the beach, some seasonal rules apply. Beachgoers are asked to knock down sand castles, fill holes, and completely clear the beach at night. 

“They’re older than the dinosaurs so they face a lot of issues here,” Widlansky said. 

Those issues include getting trapped in cabanas and beach furniture, or being lured to the street because of the bright lights. The major resorts and hotels on St. Pete Beach wait for Widlansky and his team to pass by at dawn before setting up their chairs and cabanas. 

“There’s a lot of places along the beach that use cabanas, so every year we have some turtles that’ll hit them,” he said. 

Widlandsky also asks if you’re walking the beach after dark to not use the flashlight app on your iPhone. Instead, go into your settings and change the color tint to red. 

Sea turtle nesting season runs from May 1 through Oct. 31.