salliek76

I just want you to know that when I was little, my sister and I loved watching "Perfect Strangers" every Friday. We had a bunch of rabbits as pets, and we were such big fans that one of them was named "Pinchot" in your honor. However, since we were from Alabama, nobody knew how to pronounce it, so we said it "pin-kot" (actually more like "peein'-kot"). Just thought you should know.

Epilogue: Pinchot the rabbit was eaten by a beagle. The end.

Rick's answer is definitely correct, but if I could offer something a little more "immediate" that anyone can practice: leave beaches clean, flat, and dark. That is:

• Always clear all trash, chairs, tents, etc. completely off the beach, not just to the bottom of the dunes (that's where the mama turtles like to nest). If they encounter obstacles, they'll often just turn around and go back to the water without digging a nest. If this happens repeatedly, they'll release their eggs into the water.

• Never use flashlights or flash photography on the beaches at night (it disorients both mamas and hatchlings); if you're in a beach-front house/condo, turn off any lights (including TV sets) that can be seen from the beach. (My county in the Florida panhandle requires "turtle-safe" lights on porches; not sure how widespread this is though.)

• Knock down any sand castles and fill in any holes. Mama sea turtles are not agile, and they can fall into holes and exhaust themselves.