Our friends with the Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol tell us that 23 sea turtle hatchlings that volunteers found dead near Second Street in Atlantic Beach likely were killed by an unleashed dog as the hatchlings emerged from their nest.
Even the most well-behaved dogs can be curious and easily be attracted to hatchlings or dig up a nest. It's crucial to remember that these nests are often well-camouflaged, and it's easy for us and our pets to miss them.
Let's do our part to protect the future of these amazing animals. Always keep your dog on a leash and stay away from marked nesting areas.
The predations are particularly disheartening because of all the measures that Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol volunteers take to protect the nests and keep the turtles safe. Indeed, every nest counts because scientists estimate that only one in 1,000 hatchlings reach adulthood.
Early morning beachgoers are requested to be especially vigilant and report loose dogs by calling the Police Department’s non-emergency number at (904) 247-5859 or making reports via the SaferWatch app (www.coab.us/SaferWatch). Try to get a picture, and – if the dog is friendly – get information from the dog’s tag.
And please help spread the word.
Report sea turtle incidents by calling (904) 613-6081. More information about local sea turtle protection efforts is at www.bstp.net.
Want to contact us by email about this? Send questions and comments to info@coab.us.