Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge will be closed to the public from Monday, April 1 through Friday, Aug. 30. This seasonal closure includes weekdays and weekends and involves all refuge beach areas. The refuge will resume regular open hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 31 during Saturdays and Sundays and will include weekdays when a cruise ship is in port at Frederiksted, according to a press release issued Monday by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service.
The refuge is closed during this time every year in order to protect the nests and hatchlings of the endangered leatherback sea turtle. Although these turtles begin nesting in late February and March each year, the first hatchling turtles emerge from their nests during April and will continue to emerge through August. During the hatching process, baby leatherback turtles remain just below the surface of the sand before they emerge at sunset and begin their journey to the water. It is impossible for visitors to know where hatchlings are located below the surface of the sand. Unsupervised human activity on the beach can be disastrous. A single footstep over the hatchlings can kill those near the surface. Closing nesting beaches during the leatherback hatchling season is the best way to protect hatchling sea turtles and help them survive their journey to the water.
Although closing the beaches is a major inconvenience, it is an important tool in managing this disappearing species. All species of sea turtles are listed as threatened or endangered, which means that if measures are not taken now to protect and manage sea turtles, they could become extinct. Since 1995, Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge has closed seasonally during April, May, June, July and August each year in an effort to protect hatchling turtles. The understanding and cooperation of the public is essential in helping prevent this important wildlife from disappearing.
The Turtle Watch Program takes student, youth and community groups to the wildlife refuge during seasonal closure to observe nesting turtles and hatchling emergences. The program is closely supervised and coordinated with research teams so as not to disturb the turtles. Beginning April 1, reservations for groups of 15-25 people can be made by calling the Sandy Point NWR Turtle Watch Program at 690-9452.
