Manager's Message
Katie Moses, Park Manager
Spring is a time of renewal here at Lovers Key State Park, and with it comes the arrival of one of our two most important wildlife events, the shorebird and seabird nesting season as well as sea turtle nesting season. Spring always reminds and inspires me of the Lovers Key State Park’s role in preserving the delicate coastal ecosystems of Southwest Florida.
Starting in early spring, shorebirds and seabirds such as least terns, black skimmers, snowy plovers and Wilson’s plovers begin nesting along our beaches. These birds lay their eggs directly in the sand, making their nests vulnerable to disturbance.
By May, another iconic species will return to our shores—the threatened loggerhead sea turtle. Female sea turtles come ashore at night to lay their eggs in the sand, and the hatchlings will make their journey to the Gulf months later.
To give nesting birds and sea turtles their best chance of survival, we ask visitors to follow these simple guidelines:
Keep Your Distance:
- Avoid getting close to marked nesting areas
- Avoid scaring a flock of feeding or roosting shorebirds- accidently or on purpose- shorebirds can often only feed under certain tidal conditions
- Avoid getting close to cute chicks, getting too close may cause the parent to abandon their nest and chicks
- Avoid approaching a nesting sea turtle or a hatchling crawling to the water
Leave No Trace:
- Please deposit trash in trash bins, litter, especially food, can attract predators to the area near a nesting bird
- Please dispose of fishing line in a monofilament recycling tube which are located throughout the park
- Fill in any holes you create while enjoying the beach and knock down any sandcastles our sculptures you created. These can trap bird chicks and turtle hatchlings.
Avoid Feeding Wildlife:
- Please do not feed wildlife in the park, this not only can attract predators like raccoons, gulls, and crows near nesting sites, it also introduces unhealthy food and behavior to the wildlife
- Avoid beach activities like playing loud music, flying kites, throwing balls or riding bikes near nesting sites. The sudden movements can often disturb nesting birds on the beach.
- Avoid using flashlights on the beach at night as they can disturb nesting sea turtles and hatchlings. If you need to use a flashlight, make sure to use a red filter on it.
Share the Beach:
- Avoid beach activities like playing loud music, flying kites, throwing balls or riding bikes near nesting sites. The sudden movements can often disturb nesting birds on the beach.
- Avoid using flashlights on the beach at night as they can disturb nesting sea turtles and hatchlings. If you need to use a flashlight, make sure to use a red filter on it.
Keep Pets Leashed:
- Dogs are not allowed on the beach at Lovers Key but if you are visiting another Florida beach, make sure to keep them leashed
By working together, we can ensure that Lovers Key State Park remains a safe haven for these incredible wildlife species. Thank you for being a part of our conservation efforts and for making this park a place where nature thrives.
See you at the park!