$2K Reward Offered After Turtle Found Tethered Underwater In Deer Park Lake

DEER PARK, NY — A turtle found tethered inside a cage and submerged in a Deer Park lake was likely placed there intentionally to die, according to the Suffolk County SPCA, which is offering a $2,000 reward to help identify whoever was responsible.

Town of Babylon park rangers rescued the yellow-bellied slider from Geiger Park Lake at about 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, after they were initially called to the park regarding numerous e-bikes, according to the SPCA.

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While responding to that complaint, the rangers were alerted to a turtle trapped inside a cage that had been secured with zip ties and submerged underwater.

When the rangers pulled the cage from the lake, they discovered the turtle had a fishhook lodged in its mouth and had been tethered inside the enclosure, leaving it with no way to escape, the SPCA said.

The turtle was immediately taken to West Islip Veterinary Hospital for emergency evaluation and treatment.

Suffolk County SPCA Chief Roy Gross told Patch the animal is a yellow-bellied slider, a species that is not native to Long Island. Gross said the turtle was likely originally purchased as a pet.

He also said investigators believe whoever tethered the turtle and placed it underwater likely intended to kill it.

Gross said he had "never encountered a case like this before" in his years serving as chief of the Suffolk County SPCA.

According to Gross, the turtle could only have remained underwater for up to 30 minutes before dying, and its survival indicates it had likely been placed in the water only a short time before park rangers discovered it.

Gross credited the rangers with saving the turtle's life.

The Suffolk County SPCA is seeking the public's help identifying the person or people responsible and is offering a $2,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

Gross said the organization is prepared to write a check to anyone whose information leads investigators to the person responsible.

Anyone who was at or near Geiger Park Lake around the time of the incident, or who may have seen suspicious activity involving the turtle, cage or lake, is urged to contact the Suffolk County SPCA.

Anyone with information can call the Suffolk County SPCA at 631-382-7722. All calls will be kept confidential.

The Suffolk County SPCA described animal cruelty as a serious crime and urged members of the public to report suspected abuse.

No arrests had been announced as of Friday afternoon.