I didn’t make this sign or put it in the public access by my house, but I am thrilled that someone did. Zona de Anidacion means Nesting Zone. But it is more than nesting that makes me so unhappy about people driving on the beach. What about the baby turtles as they hatch? It’s hard enough for them to make it to their ocean home going over all the footprints and beer cans and plastic bottles and other plastic crap that people leave on the beach.

Going over tire tracks is a major hurdle for these precious little ones. I’ve seen them as they fall into the rut and end up on their backs struggling to right themselves. It’s bad enough that some dogs dig up nests, and the birds eat the babies as they attempt to get to the sea and crabs eat the eggs in the nest. At least those last two I mentioned are nature at its finest.

But cars and trucks on the beach? Why? Because it’s Mexico and you can do anything you want and get away with it? No rules? You left your brain at home? You left your manners at home? You don’t care?

 

Yesterday I stopped a fisherman from driving his truck over a bunch of baby turtles. I went screaming and waving my arms in his path yelling, “No! No!” As he got closer I reached down and picked up one of the turtles and held it up for the fisherman to see. He got out of his truck and saw for himself all the turtles…must have been about 40 of them right there in front of him. Had I not stopped him, he would have driven over them in his full sized truck.

To his credit, he got right with it, picking up the babies and putting them closer to the water. Maybe that’s not the right thing to do either, but it’s better than driving all over them. He took photos with his phone and I offered to take his photo with the turtles. His smile with those little ones made my morning. We spent a lot more time watching the waves roll up and over them a few times before they finally made it out to swim. The fisherman never did continue driving, rather turned around and went off the beach.

I can’t help but think that if people who drive all over the beach would see this miracle hatching or females laying eggs, that they would stop taking their vehicles on the beach. Maybe that is too optimistic, but I’ve always been more of an optimist than a pessimist. Lack of knowledge about the impact their driving causes has to be one reason they don’t stop.

 

All those black dots are babies heading to the water.

 

These are the mother turtle tracks from coming up to nest and then going back to the water.

And in case you didn’t see my previous post, here is a mother turtle covering her nest. We came upon her early one morning. What a blessing to see this miracle.

I hope this short video of the babies heading to the water will buffer quickly for you.

I promise it is worth your time.

You miss many wonderful things driving on the beach. Here are some things I’ve come upon during my walks.

 

 

Just standing still for awhile to watch the waves, and turning toward the mountains and see the sunrise are two examples.

 

But it is more than that. The peaceful feelings, the wonder, or the magic won’t be yours as you roar down the beach in your vehicle.

Sunrise seen today as I walked on the beach.

 

Please don’t drive on the beach. The turtles need your help.