Damage To Sea Turtle Nest Underlines Need For Public's Help

SIESTA KEY, FL -- The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is asking for the public’s help to identify whoever ran over eight sea turtle nests on south Siesta Key.

Mote Marine Laboratory’s Sea Turtle Patrol discovered the damage along with tracks from a golf cart or all-terrain vehicle on Friday, June 22.

The patrol reported that someone had run over a newly laid, unmarked sea turtle nest on the beach and knocked down stakes marking seven other nests.

Earlier this month, an ATV just missed hitting a nest on Longboat Key.

FWC officers investigated but can’t say whether the destruction was accidental or on purpose.

But, if someone is intentionally destroying turtle nests, he or she could face fines and even jail time.

“It’s illegal for people to damage, disturb or destroy sea turtle nests, including nest marking materials such as stakes, and the penalties increase for each egg damaged,” said FWC Public Information Officer Brian Norris.

According to members of the Mote patrol, there was no obvious damage to the turtle eggs, however, it is difficult to assess damage without disturbing the nest so they won’t know the results of the mishap until the nest hatches.

“We are disappointed to see this kind of destruction – especially to know that it likely took place at night, when the perpetrators could have easily driven over hatchlings or hit a nesting sea turtle,” said Coquina Homer, biological technician at Mote. “We go to a lot of effort to protect sea turtles, which are threatened species. We hope that members of the public learn from this incident and help to ensure that it doesn’t happen again.”

Sea turtle nesting season runs from May 1 and ends Oct. 31 along southwest Florida beaches.

Different nonprofit groups, working with the FWC, have assumed responsibility for marking, patrolling and protecting sea turtle nests on the Gulf Coast.

Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota monitors 35 miles of sea turtle nesting beaches in Manatee and Sarasota counties including Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key, Casey Key, Lido Key, Manasota Key. Siesta Key and Venice beaches.

As of June 23, Mote has marked 358 nests.

Three marine environmental groups monitor the beaches along Pinellas County, including Anclote Key, Shell Key Preserve, Caladesi Island, Fort DeSoto Park, Honeymoon Island, Outback Key, St. Pete Beach and Pinellas County-owned beaches.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium monitors 13 miles of beach along North Pinellas County.

So far, the aquarium has marked 108 sea turtle nests.

The nonprofit Sea Turtle Trackers patrol eight miles of beach including Shell Key Preserve and St. Pete Beach.

And biologist Laura Wright and her team of volunteers patrol the remaining 26 miles of Pinellas County beaches.

Hillsborough County has just one nesting area: Egmont Key. It’s monitored by the Egmont Key Sea Turtle Survival Program, a part of the Friends of Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges.

These groups, however, can’t be on the beaches 24 hours a day. Norris said they depend on the public to help them keep watch over the nests and report anyone interfering with them.

“We would appreciate any more information that people can provide, and we also want people to learn from this incident and recognize that sea turtles and their nests are protected under the law,” he said.

FWC is asking anyone with information about the incident to call FWC’s wildlife alert hotline at 888-404-FWC.

Images via Mote and Longboat Key Turtle Watch