A Florida Keys family got a spectacular surprise when they discovered 64 baby sea turtles swimming in their backyard pool in Islamorada in August.
The hatchlings apparently had been drawn away from the ocean by artificial light, and the homeowners called The Turtle Hospital for help.
“It’s the most I’ve seen in a swimming pool, for sure,” said Bette Zirkelbach, general manager of The Turtle Hospital.
The hatchlings were cleaned and given fluids at the hospital and underwent swimming assessments. They were healthy enough to be released just a few days later into the Gulf Stream.
But why did the turtles end up in someone’s swimming pool?
The turtles had been heading toward the light.
Newly hatched sea turtles emerge primarily at night and instinctively move toward the brightest horizon. On a natural beach, the brightest, most open horizon is generally the sky over the ocean, illuminated by natural night-sky light.
Artificial lights can change that calculation. A porch light, pool light, or illuminated building can appear brighter than the distant ocean, causing hatchlings to crawl inland instead. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) says the resulting disorientation causes thousands of hatchling deaths each year in Florida.
Islamorada has sea-turtle lighting regulations because artificial light can disorient hatchlings and interfere with nesting turtles. FWC recommends minimizing artificial light visible from nesting beaches.
Florida’s sea turtle nesting season begins in spring and extends into fall, with hatchlings emerging from nests throughout June, July, August, September, and October.
The species of these 64 hatchlings was not identified in the reports, so their specific conservation status is unknown. Several sea turtle species found in U.S. waters, however, are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. Hatchlings face numerous threats, including predators, loss of nesting habitat, artificial lighting, marine debris, pollution, boat strikes, and accidental capture in fishing gear.
For these hatchlings, the chlorinated pool was a dangerous detour. Unable to simply climb out and continue toward the ocean, they needed help.
The rescue ended well: All 64 recovered and were released into the Gulf Stream.
