Here’s where to get red-light flashlights during Hilton Head’s sea turtle nesting season
Hilton Head Island’s “lights out” ordinance is in effect May 1 through Oct. 31 each year to help protect local sea turtles during their egg-laying and hatching season. This puts a stop to using regular, brightly lit, white-light flashlights on or near the beaches in the evening, making the use of red-light flashlights safe and widely popular at this time of year.
And the ordinance is certainly needed this year.
According to Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head in a recent Facebook post, the group has found 134 total sea turtle nests on the island and that number is expected to climb, adding to the importance of local sea turtle laws and ordinances being followed.
Visiting an island beach in the evening and forgot your red-light flashlight?
Here’s where you can find a red-light flashlight during sea turtle nesting season on Hilton Head Island:
Palmetto Dunes General Store has red-light flashlights available for purchase for $9.99. The general store is located in the heart of the Palmetto Dunes community and is within walking distance from many amenities such as the beach, the Robert Trent Jones Golf Course as well as the tennis and pickleball courts. The establishment is located at 1 Trent Jones Lane, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928.
Outside Hilton Head also has red-light flashlights available for purchase in their stores. One option is a $50 flashlight as well as an additional smaller $30 option. Outside Hilton Head’s flagship retail store can be found mid-island in The Plaza at Shelter Cove Shopping Center at 50 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928.
Walmart has red-light flashlights available in their stores. The retailer has several options to choose from including $9.99 and $16.76 options. Walmart on the island can be found toward the north end at 25 Pembroke Drive, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926.
Grayco on the island offers red-light flashlight options found in aisle 10 of this establishment. Grayco is located just past the mid-island crossway near Sea Pines Circle and can be found at 6 Bow Circle, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928.
Ace Hardware of Hilton Head carries both red-light flashlights and headlights, which can be found on aisle eight inside the store. Found at the north end of the island, Ace Hardware of Hilton Head is located at 3 Northridge Drive, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926.
Cell phone users can download any red-light app onto their cellular device to achieve a red-light “flashlight” on their phones. Apps available include jLight, NightVision Light, and Flashlight, along with numerous other choices.
Turtle Trackers events take place scattered throughout the week during the sea turtle nesting season as long as the weather permits. The Trackers host a variety of learning stations in Sea Pines, Shelter Cove’s Harbourfest and Palmetto Dunes to help spread more knowledge about the island’s local sea turtles and provide red-light aids for attendees.
-Sea Pines: On Sundays 2-6 p.m. and Mondays 5-7 p.m. at the Salty Dog in South Beach Marina until Sep. 5.
-Shelter Cove HarbourFest: Tuesdays from 6 p.m. until 9p.m. at Shelter Cove Harbour and Marina near the Neptune Statue until Aug. 23.
-Palmetto Dunes General Store: Mondays from 9 a.m. until 11a.m. until Aug. 29 and can be found at 1 Trent Jones Lane.
Make your own red-light flashlight
Don’t want to purchase a whole new flashlight or download any apps?
Red cellophane, a type of plastic wrapping and decorative material, can be layered and paired with a standard flashlight containing a regular bulb to create a red-light effect.
Night-time beach walkers can create this red-light dupe by layering red cellophane in thick enough layers until the light becomes a dull red. The cellophane can then be rubber-banded or taped securely into place onto the flashlight, according to Experience Astronomy.
Additionally, attaching a thin sheet of plastic to a higher wattage flashlight creates the same effect as taping a thin piece of red tape onto the back of your cell phone’s flashlight or regular flashlight.
This story was originally published June 9, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
