GULF SHORES, Ala. — As people move into a wildlife habitat like the Gulf Coast, problems arise. Interference with nature is created, but beachfront residents can take an active role in reducing that intrusion.

To bring this issue to light, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Alabama Share the Beach Program, Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau, Alabama State Parks and Baldwin County Soil and Water Conservation Districts created a coalition to spread the word.

The Alabama Sea Turtle Lighting Workshop, held Nov. 13 in Gulf Shores, aimed to show residents how to minimize the affect they have on nesting sea turtles and their hatchlings.

“We aim to provide lighting education and options that provide sufficient lighting for human safety while significantly reducing or eliminating the impact on sea turtles,” USFWS biologist Dianne Ingram said. “The problem is two-fold — affecting adult female sea turtles at nesting time and then the hatchlings when they emerge two months later.”

Mothers can become disoriented by strong lighting, wander out to a road, fall in a pool or use all their energy before nesting.

Hatchlings, who are seaward oriented by the moon, can be distracted and are attacked by ghost crabs or become dehydrated before reaching the water.

A benefit to living on the coast is the experiences with wildlife like sea turtles. Protecting them by giving them a safe place to nest will continue that heritage, according to key-note speaker Lorna Patrick, also a USFWS biologist.

Currently, sea turtles are federally listed as threatened and endangered, and have been protected by the Endangered Species Act since 1973.

During the workshop, Patrick said these creatures who had survived for more than 100 million years were brought to near extinction in less than 200 years.

“Why did the population crash?” Patrick asked rhetorically. “Over harvesting caused the population to collapse.”

That collapse has spawned an effort to restore the population and bring back an aquatic marvel.

Recovery of the species is defined as “able to be self-sustaining in the wild,” according to Ingram.

“With darker beaches, more female sea turtles would be attracted to nest here, increasing the number of hatchlings and helping the recovery of these threatened and endangered species,” Ingram said.

Sea turtles return nearly 15 to 20 years later to the area they were hatched at to nest once they’ve reached maturity.

“These turtles here are really our turtles to take care of,” Patrick said. She explained if those who were hatched here do not make it to the water and develop then the Gulf Coast will one day be a vacant beach.

Creating darker beaches by removing what is referenced as light pollution is the key to sea turtle recovery and residents, as well as beachfront business owners and coastal municipalities, can make a difference.

The city of Gulf Shores has become a frontrunner in wildlife preservation and passed a lighting ordinance to restrict light types and positions to help with the recovery mission.

Tall, bright light sources, unshielded fixtures like globes, decorative up-lights and floodlights all confuse a sea turtle and direct it away from its destination.

Overly lit parking lots can create a glowing attraction for the Gulf bound creatures, and many have succumbed to a car tire.

The important thing to remember is to light only where necessary for safety.

“We never say black out the beaches,” Patrick told the crowd. “We know that we need light for safety and security.”

To check your home or business answer three questions: Is the light visible from the beach? Does the light glow? Does the light reflect off the house? These situations will cause a problem for sea turtles.

Three rules to follow when installing lights, or rectifying those that may be a problem, are: Keep it Low, Keep it Shielded and Keep it Long.

Patrick explained boardwalk lights can be kept low, and does not need to hang from a tall light pole to work.

“Keep light as low as you need it for the task at hand,” Patrick said.

Most lights are brighter than needed and keeping the level of lumens low will reduce the glow they create.

Keeping lights shielded will deter the light and disable the turtle’s ability to see the light from the beach.

Recessed lights, which sit in the ground or floor, allow shielding. Directing lights away from the beach is a quick way to make a big change.

Keeping the wavelength of light long, which puts it in the redder end of the color spectrum, creates colors that don’t attract the sea turtles.

Patrick said, during an interview before the workshop, that the problem drastically impacts and is simple to rectify.

“Lighting is one of the greatest threats to sea turtles on land but the easiest and most affordable to correct. Installing or changing sea turtle lighting has been shown to reduce sea turtle hatchlings disorientations, so we know it works,” she said.