SHANE ANTALICK Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Coastal Wildlife Director Kelly Sloan with Jackie and John Fischer.

The window clings created as part of the “After 9, It’s Turtle Time” campaign by the city of Sanibel, in partnership with the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, are now being distributed on Captiva.

In 2015, the city received a grant from the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s Sea Turtle License Plate Grant Program to educate residents and visitors to keep light from shining on the beach after dark. The square clings that stick to sliding glass doors feature a sea turtle with sunglasses reminding people to “close curtains and blinds or turn off lights.”

As part-time residents at the South Seas Island Resort, Jackie and John Fischer took the initiative to reach out to the SCCF’s sea turtle team to get more clings printed. Jackie Fischer’s company, Skipjack Investments, sponsored the printing of 5,000 new clings.

“They are a great way to tell guests about keeping lights off and also a small reminder to not walk into the sliding glass doors,” she said.

SCCF Coastal Wildlife Director Kelly Sloan said her team has found the ongoing campaign to be effective in educating visitors and residents.

The educational effort was led by the city’s Natural Resources Department. Grant funds were used to create and produce light switch stickers, static-cling window decals and elevator posters. The materials are distributed free to resorts, property owners and managers, and rental agencies for beachfront units.

Although most summertime visitors receive some information at check-in regarding sea turtles, the goal of the program is to provide additional reminders at key locations — light switches, windows and sliding glass doors, and elevators — that helping sea turtles can be as easy as flipping a switch.

“We got great feedback specifically about the window clings,” Sloan said. “People we chat with on the beach continue to tell us they learned to close their shades from them.”

City staffers were happy to hear about donor funding to extend the distribution to Captiva.

“The campaign was focused on Sanibel, so it’s great that someone is interested in helping expand to Captiva,” Natural Resources Director Holly Milbrandt said. “The city continues to distribute stickers and clings to Sanibel’s beachfront property owners upon request.”

SCCF’s sea turtle team encourages residents and visitors to also be considerate of sea turtles.

“Sea turtles are facing so many lighting-related obstacles in our state, and every step taken by residents and visitors to reduce light pollution makes a very real difference in their survival,” Sloan said. “These clings are helpful reminders not just to those who live on the beachfront, but anywhere on our islands.”

Sea turtle nesting season runs from now through October.

To request window clings, email info@sccf.org.

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