299 Sea Turtle Eggs Rescued from Poacher

A quick-thinking passerby gets the credit for helping the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission rescue nearly 300 sea turtle eggs from a poacher on Friday.

The agency said the woman saw what she believed was a man taking sea turtle eggs from Diamond Sands beach off A1A and provided officers with a solid description of the man and the vehicle he was driving.

Wildlife officers went out to the beach in St. Lucie County where they were able to locate and talk with the man, a media release from the agency said. K-9s were used to track where the man had been on the beach. The dogs led officers to a disturbed sea turtle nest and a backpack that was loaded with eggs, the release said.

Florida is home to five species of sea turtles. Every species is either considered threatened or endangered, making them subject to the Florida Marine Turtle Protection Act. The act makes it illegal to harm, injure, capture or attempt to capture marine turtles, nests or eggs. Violations of the act are considered a third-degree felony and carry a fine of $100 per egg, according to Florida statutes.

The man arrested in Friday’s case, James Odel McGriff, 55, has been charged with a similar crime in the past, the wildlife commission reported. He was arrested in 2002 after he tried to sell 12 eggs to an undercover officer. He also had 27 dozen pre-bagged eggs for sale.

In regard to Friday’s incident, McGriff has been charged with possession of more than 11 marine turtle eggs, two counts of mutilation of a marine sea turtle nest and trespassing. He is being held in the St. Lucie County Jail on $11,250 bond, according to jail records.

Katie Purcell, spokeswoman for FWC, said additional federal charges may also be filed pending the outcome of the investigation.

“We take these matters very seriously,” Capt. Jeff Ardelean, a supervisor in the FWC’s West Palm Beach office, was quoted in the release as saying. “Stopping those who attempt to poach and commercialize our endangered species is one of our highest priorities.”

Purcell said sea turtle eggs are often sold by poachers to those who eat them.

The wildlife commission has set up a hotline number people can call if they witness events such as turtle egg theft. Anyone who knows of or suspects violations is asked to call 1-888-404-3922. Tips can also be texted to Tip@MyFWC.com.

Photo Credit: Some of the sea turtle eggs recovered by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.