Did you know? 

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach cities are home to endangered sea turtles all along our beautiful beaches. Anyone who visits our beaches has an impact on our wildlife, we ask you to do your part in educating yourself, your family, and friends in what you can do during your stay by learning about the natural patterns that affect our beaches.

Sustainable Tourism:

Sea turtle populations have been positively affected by conservation efforts, and with that, we hope that future generations are able to experience the diversity of our coastal species. With more than five million annual visitors to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, every action counts. 

• Lighting is a big issue that we try to approach and educate tourists on every year. You can do your part by using amber, or red, flashlights. Blue and White lights can disorient baby sea turtles drawing them towards the shore instead of to the water. 
• Holes are another hazard on the beach.  It is possible for sea turtles to get stuck in these areas, so return the sand to any holes that you dig, large or small. Refill all holes. They can cause injury to wildlife and people. And be careful when playing in holes. Falling sand from side collapses can be dangerous.
• Stash your trash. Items large and small can be potential hazards when they don’t make it into the proper disposal bins. There are recycling and garbage bins located onsite at each public beach for you to utilize. You can also find monofilament recycling line stations at many of the public boat ramps in town.
• Reduce single-use plastics. By reducing our dependency on single-use plastics, we start a conversation about plastic pollution, which can affect our culture, our waterways, and our health. Start small. Start with just saying no one time.
• Keep off the Dunes! Staying off the dunes will help us to preserve our dune system and the habitat it provides. Use beach walkovers and boardwalks where provided.
• Observe and obey the Beach Warning Flag System. Double red flags mean the waters are closed for your safety.
• Avoid walking on any beach vegetation. Plant roots hold together the fragile dunes.
• Explore away from bird nesting areas. Nests may be located in the ground and camouflaged to resemble the surrounding environment, so please watch your step!

June 16 is designated as World Sea Turtle Day. Sea turtle eggs and hatchlings are incredibly vulnerable to the environment. Every Action Counts!

Items NOT allowed on our beaches:

• Glass Containers
• Metal Shovels
• Excessive Digging
• Litter
• Tents or Structures larger than 12'x12'
• Overnight Camping
• Fireworks
• Loud Music
• Fires
• Pets
• Vehicles

After your fun in the sun on our white-sugary sand beaches, remember to take your belongings, pack up your memories...and leave only footprints!