HUTCHINSON ISLAND — It was 3 a.m. when John Hober started saving lives.

Sea turtle hatchlings were crawling through the parking lot of the Ocean Towers Condominium, lured into peril by illegal lights they'd mistaken for the moon.

"They're the cutest little things you can imagine," Hober said after scooping up about 75 turtles and carrying them to the ocean. "Going the wrong direction, they really don't have a chance."

September's hurricanes ripped up tall dune vegetation and damaged shields that blocked light from the beach. Now, officials in Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties are cracking down on new lights that can be seen from the beach and confuse turtles.

By the end of the week, about 40 letters will be sent to beachfront condominiums, businesses and homes warning residents of code enforcement violations and offering suggestions for compliance.

All Treasure Coast counties have ordinances against lights that illuminate the beach.

Erik Martin, a sea turtle biologist with Ecological Associates, said the number of lights visible on the beach drastically has increased since the storms ravaged the coast.

"The biggest problem is the fact that the dunes were so badly destroyed," he said. "With a lack of that dune vegetation, such as sea grapes, there are no larger plants blocking the lights."

Both adult and hatchling sea turtles are attracted to the brightest area, which in nature would be the moon reflected off the ocean. Exterior and interior lights that can be seen from the beach disorient the protected species and can affect nesting success.

Martin County and other biologists surveyed the Martin and Indian River county coastline at night for problem lights. St. Lucie County's environmental resource division conducts its own surveys.

Amy Mott, St. Lucie County's environmental regulations supervisor, said Ocean Towers condominium was one of 10 oceanfront buildings that received violation letters.

A representative from Ocean Towers could not be reached for comment.

"This year, we've seen more lighting violations than ever before," she said. "One of our biggest problems is the interior lights, like a ceiling fan light or a light over the oven."

Martin County will send out about 25 to 30 letters by Friday, and follow-up visits are planned for later this month. An additional 70 less-severe violators will receive letters later, said Ross Wilcox, the county's environmental planning administrator.

This is the first year a nighttime survey was performed in Indian River County, but officials — who received the survey results this week — said lights are a major concern.

"There is certainly going to be a big hatchling disorientation problem," said Jonathan Gorham, the county's environmental analyst. "If you're not from around here, you have no idea that turtles and lights are a problem."

In the dark

• Oceanfront residents should close blinds and turn off lights.

• Check whether lights can be seen from the beach within a quarter-mile of the building.

• Shield parking lot and walkway lights to make them turtle friendly.

• Learn more by reading "A Citizen's Guide to Lighting on Nesting Beaches" by Ecological Associates, available for free by calling (772) 334-3729.

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