Birds, fish, crustaceans, turtles, and more—every inch of Pensacola Beach is teeming with life.

When you look across the white sand, it may appear to be lifeless, but there are many different invertebrates that live beneath the sand — ghost crabs, coquina clams, and the mole crab (sand flea) are a few that can be found buried near the shore's edge.

The luckiest of visitors might get to see a sea turtle crawl onto the shore to nest. Turtles have been known to have their nesting paths blocked by chairs and umbrellas, get tangled in fishing lines, or become disoriented by lights. Turtles typically nest at night, so do your best to keep the beach clear of debris in the evenings.

Even now, there is life all around you. Do your best to respect it. Above all, please remember to throw away your garbage, and do not feed the birds or other wildlife. If we all do our part, we can continue to share our shores with wildlife for years to come.