Bernie Mont
•6/26/2026
Baby sea turtles on Fort Myers Beach are mistaking electric lights for moonlight, leading to disorientation and death, and town officials are urging residents to adjust their lighting to help the hatchlings safely reach the Gulf.
Sea turtles are coming ashore to lay eggs across Gulf Coast beaches through the fall.
"We want our sea turtles to have really good survival chances this year," said Abigail Eberhart, Fort Myers Beach public information officer.
Eberhart explained that disorientation has been a significant issue in past years.
"In previous years, we've had a lot of disorientation. That means that a lot of sea turtles haven't made their way to the water, and they've actually died on the way there," she said.
Hatchlings often confuse bright, blue electric lights for moonlight, which guides them to the water.
"When you turn on your lights, you want them to be a deep orange color and pointed downward. That way they don't compete with the moonlight," said Gulf Coast News reporter Bernie Montás.
Fort Myers Beach currently has 27 active cases of properties with lights that do not comply with town standards, a number higher than in past years. However, not all residents agree with the lighting requirements.
"It's dim all year, as far as I know, and the turtle season doesn't go for the whole year. So, why do we have the lights turned down?" said Fort Myers Beach resident George Kormos.
Kormos also expressed concerns about safety, saying, "Unless somebody is right by a light, you may not see them if you're driving."
Residents face a $250 fine for the first offense and double for the second.
Eberhart noted that new buildings along the beach contribute to the issue.
"They either don't know, or they simply just haven't maneuvered over to the different kind of light bulb," she said.
Town officials are working to address the problem and ensure compliance with lighting standards.
