Sanibel is a refuge island and take its role of protecting wildlife seriously. To ensure that the island's natural resources continue to thrive, please respect local regulations and guidelines.

• Shell judiciously. It's illegal to take live seashells within the City of Sanibel. "Live" means any shell with a creature still inside. The law also covers star fish, sea urchins and sand dollars. No shelling is allowed in J.N. "Ding" Darling Refuge.
• Pack your trash. Litter not only spoils the beauty of the islands, it can harm wildlife. Be especially heedful in discarding monofilament fishing line, plastic six-pack rings, shopping bags, fish bones, beverage cans, and fish hooks.
• Do not feed the animals -- including alligators in the wild, pelicans at the fishing pier, and gulls on the beach. It's illegal, dangerous, and encourages them to abandon natural self-feeding instincts.
• Drive slowly and carefully. At night especially, armadillos, alligators, raccoons, turtles, and birds wander onto roadways.
• Boat slowly and carefully. Stay in the marked channels to avoid scarring precious grass bed habitat. Observe warning signs in popular manatee areas; slow down and keep a sharp eye.
• Save the turtles. During summer, we turn off lights facing the beach. They disorient nesting and hatching loggerhead turtles. Do not disturb turtle nests.
• Admire dune grasses from afar. Sea oats are our beach builders; therefore, Sanibel has made it illegal to remove them. Also at the beach, use wooden beach walk-overs where provided to preserve dunes and their growth.
• Be fish-smart. Abide by fishing regulations limiting size and seasons. Local bait shops can provide charts, gauges and information on fishing licenses. Catch-and-release is encouraged by local guides.