Leave No Trace Behind

Keep Pensacola Beach & Perdido Key Sea Turtle-Friendly

Escambia County reminds beachgoers to “leave no trace” and turn out the lights this spring and summer, keeping Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key safe and sea turtle-friendly. May is the beginning of sea turtle nesting season in Florida, with thousands of endangered turtles laying their eggs on Gulf Coast and Atlantic beaches until the season ends October 31.

Lights out to protect baby sea turtles

Light pollution has a negative effect on sea turtles, causing hatchlings to become disoriented and head away from the Gulf of Mexico when they emerge from their nest.
Do not disturb nesting females or hatchlings by using flashlights, flash photography or lanterns at night.
Turn out beachfront lights after dusk.
Close blinds and curtains in beachfront homes when interior lights are on at night.
To view complete sea turtle lighting regulations for Pensacola Beach, click here.

“Leave No Trace” on the beach

Fill in any holes in the sand and knock down sand sculptures at day’s end to remove obstacles blocking sea turtles’ nesting activities.
Remain at a distance from nesting sea turtles and hatchlings.
Properly dispose of trash and discarded fishing gear. Sea turtles can become entangled in old fishing nets and lines or ingest plastic bags and wrappers, mistaking them for jellyfish.
Remove personal belongings from the beach at the end of each day. Items such as umbrellas, tents, beach toys and chairs left unattended on Pensacola Beach overnight will be removed and disposed of by cleaning crews.
Through the Leave No Trace ordinance adopted in August 2015 by the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners, it is illegal to leave personal property on any portion of the sandy gulf beach daily from sunset until sunrise.
To view the Leave No Trace ordinance, click here.

Report a Leave No Trace Behind Issue

Learn more on our Sea Turtles pages.

Protect Sea Turtles by Leaving No Trace and Turning Off Lights

Sea Turtle Facts

Escambia County beaches are home to four of the six species of sea turtles found in U.S. waters: loggerhead, green, leatherback and Kemp’s ridley.
All species of sea turtles are listed as threatened or endangered and protected by the Endangered Species Act.
Only an estimated 1 in 1,000 sea turtle hatchlings survive to reach adulthood.

To report an injured or dead sea turtle,
contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
at 1-888-404-3922.

View Social Channels List

Accessibility Title VI/Nondiscrimination Contact Us Site Map Website Feedback Employees Media Center Public Records Request Service Requests Careers

The mission of Escambia County government is to provide efficient, responsive services that enhance our quality of life, meet common needs and promote a safe and healthy community.

Under Florida law, IP addresses and both the content of emails and email addresses are public records. If you do not want your IP address and the content of your email or your email address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in person.