Bright Lights in Georgia, Florida Disorienting Sea Turtle Hatchlings

New high-mast highway lights installed near the Buc-ee's travel center on Interstate 95 in Brunswick, Georgia, are causing disorientation among loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings, leading them to move inland away from the ocean. The lights, owned by the Georgia Department of Transportation and managed by Glynn County, cast bright illumination visible miles away, disrupting the turtles' natural navigation cues and deterring adult females from nesting in affected areas. Conservation groups like One Hundred Miles are urging Glynn County to dim or shield the lights during the hatching season to prevent further harm, while officials consider alternative lighting solutions. Similar sea turtle disorientation issues due to artificial lighting have been reported in Atlantic Beach, Florida, and Fort Myers Beach, Florida, where local lighting ordinances aim to minimize light pollution to protect nesting turtles. Experts emphasize the importance of reducing artificial light near nesting beaches by using shielded, amber-colored lights and following beach-friendly practices to support sea turtle survival during critical hatching periods. The ongoing challenge highlights the conflict between infrastructure lighting for human safety and wildlife conservation along coastal areas.