Refuge beaches support nest densities as high or higher than many areas along the Northern Gulf Coast with 4.5-5 nests/mile. Loggerhead and Kemp's Ridley sea turtles have been documented nesting on Bon Secour NWR.
Leatherback and green sea turtles also occur in gulf waters and along refuge beaches.
Conservation strategies to protect these turtles under the Endangered Species Act include on-site nest monitoring and protection, as well as working with Environmental Education and Public Outreach to foster community awareness.
In 2001, the USFWS initiated a sea turtle volunteer program called Share the Beach, involving local residents and businesses in sea turtle conservation. As a result of increased monitoring and public support through this program, nearly all sea turtles that hatch on Alabama beaches make it to the water.
Bon Secour NWR Sea Turtle Manual