ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — Plans for a 100-foot-tall Buc-ee’s sign in St. Lucie County are raising concerns among wildlife experts who fear the light pollution could disrupt local animals, particularly migratory birds and sea turtle hatchlings. The massive sign is part of a larger development that will include a 76,000-square-foot travel center, 120 fuel pumps, and over 720 parking spots.
While the sign itself is too far from the coast to directly impact sea turtle nesting, experts are concerned about the long-term effects of increased light pollution from future development in the area.
Bryan Danson from the Florida Oceanographic Society explained how this kind of light can disorient sea turtles.
“As they emerge, if the ocean is not the brightest place, so if the moon over the ocean is not causing the brightest amount of light and there’s too much light from behind, they may think that’s where they need to go,” he said.
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Migratory birds face a more direct and immediate impact from bright, artificial lights. Many birds fly at night and rely on landmarks and the stars to navigate.
According to Danson, bright lights can make it “very difficult for them to pick out those landmarks as they move through the air.”
The approval of the 100-foot sign was a significant move for the county, as a local ordinance prohibits signs over 10 feet without special permission. The St. Lucie County Commission voted 4-1 to approve the sign last year, a decision that has prompted concern from at least one commissioner.
Former Commissioner Chris Dzadovsky voiced her worry that the approval could open the door for more signs of a similar size.
“My concern is not with this particular scenario as much as how many more are going to come after that,” he said, noting the way the land is zoned could allow for more tall signs in the area.
Buc-ee’s has announced it plans to have the new location built in 2026. The company did not respond to a request for comment.
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