The baby loggerhead turtle knows the time is right. He emerges from his nest. His instincts are screaming that he should get moving, that he needs to scramble on his immature, brown-yellow limbs towards the light.

He doesn’t know that where he is supposed to be headed is the ocean. He only knows that the light draws him. His instinct is clever; for most of the past 60 million years when this scene has been played out, the ocean has been the brightest light.

When he reaches it – if he reaches it, past the predators that would like to gobble him up – he’ll plunge his tiny frame into its arms.

If he reaches adulthood he will grow into a magnificent creature that will reach as much as 800 pounds and three and a half feet long. He may well live as long as 30, 40 or even 50 years. But the odds against him are staggering. Only one out of 1000 hatchlings will make it to maturity. His first daunting task is to get to the ocean.

The baby loggerhead begins his dangerous trek, drawing his toes deep into the sand and dredging a trail behind him. He can see the light shimmering, beckoning him. Finally, he reaches it.

It’s a highway. The miniature turtle has been confused by its lights, and has hurried the wrong direction towards certain disaster.

Sadly, many times, this story is a true one. Sea turtles are on the brink of extinction.

Once, sea turtles wandered the oceans by the millions. However, the demand for sea turtle meat, eggs, shell, leather and oil, coupled with the loss of habitat due to urban development along the coasts has seriously reduced their population.

The good news is that you can help save our little friend and his kind. You can learn a bit and have fun doing it, too. How?

Every year from April to September, Florida beaches host the largest bunch of nesting sea turtles in the U.S. This summer you can join in a turtle release during the peak of the hatching season. Since 1980, more than 537,134 endangered sea turtles have been hatched and released through the Miami-Dade Parks Sea Turtle Nesting and Relocation Program.

Bill Ahern has been with the program for 21 years, and told me a little about it. In the evening a group of no more than 50 people will gather on the beach. The gathering occurs in the evening because that’s when sea turtles crawl from their nests to the ocean; that’s when they are safest from predators.

Bill or one of his associates will start by giving a slide show and answering questions. After that, you’ll venture to nests where they have found stragglers. You’ll help anywhere from ten to 100 hatchlings reach the sea. (Handling may be limited: Bill warns they try not to have lots of people holding the youngsters, as it may be unhealthy for them.)

For only $5.00 you can join in the fun!

• Wear comfortable shoes.
• Bring insect repellent.
• Bring a little flashlight.
• Remember your camera! (You cannot use flash photography at the water’s edge because it might confuse the baby turtles.)

For more information click here; for information and reservations (for either Haulover Beach Park or Crandon Park) call Crandon Park Visitors’ and Nature Center at 305-361-6767. 

The Sea Turtle Hatchling Release Schedule

9-10 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Haulover Beach Park, 10800 Collins Ave., Miami Beach.

8:30-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Crandon Park Visitors’ and Nature Center, 6767Crandon Blvd., Key Biscayne.

Please make reservations in the beginning of July for presentations and releases in July, August and September.

History of the Program

30 years ago, the Miami-Dade Park and Recreation Department organized a new program to support the nesting of the loggerhead, green and leatherback turtles. These three species had not reproduced successfully on its beaches for decades – but since the implementation of the Miami-Dade Parks' Beach Operations turtle program the nesting rate has gone from 0 nest sites in 1979 to 363 in 2003.

The Sea Turtle Nesting and Relocation Program released over 41,000 new baby loggerhead, green and leatherback turtles in 1998, making this one of the most effective conservation efforts of its kind. This accomplishment is a triumph over egg poaching, destruction of native habitat, and the regular disturbance of bright night lights which disorient the hatchlings and draw them to populated road areas, where they die. The Sea Turtle Nesting and Relocation Program supervises all nesting activity along nearly 20 miles of Atlantic beachfront.

• Sea turtles have been around for 60 million years -- since the dinosaur!
• Sea turtles leave between 80-180 eggs in their nests.
• Turtles will revisit the beach where they were laid to deposit their eggs, year after year.
• Since 1980, Miami-Dade Parks has hatched and released approximately 537,134 endangered sea turtles.
• It's illegal to buy products made from sea turtles or any other endangered species.

• Join in the Miami-Dade Parks Sea Turtle Program.\
• Never approach turtles emerging from the sea or bother or harass nesting turtles.
• Beware of disoriented hatchlings or turtles wandering on the road.
• Take care when boating to avoid collision with turtles.
• When on or near the beach, keep outside lights off or minimized from May 1 - October 31.