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Nesting loggerhead sea turtle struck, killed by vehicle

Sea turtle struck, killed by vehicle

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Featured, Outdoors, Sea turtles.

BRADENTON BEACH – Likely disoriented by streetlights on Gulf Drive, a loggerhead sea turtle that had just nested wandered onto the road and was struck and killed by a vehicle in the early morning of June 19.

The turtle had nested in nearby sand dunes and was likely disoriented by streetlights illuminating a crosswalk, according to Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella.

Sea turtles use light to find their way back to the water after nesting, heading away from dark shadows and towards the brightest horizon, which is usually the light of the night sky over the water. Disorientations occur when sea turtles fail to orient towards the water and travel towards artificial light instead.

Mazzarella told The Sun that the turtle was struck near the Coquina North Boat Ramp at around 5:30 a.m.

“Nesting turtles are 25 years or older, so she was definitely an adult sea turtle,” she said. “Sea turtles produce eggs until they die, so there were many future nests she could have laid.”

The turtle died at the scene and will be taken for necropsy (an animal autopsy) by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

“The good news is that she laid eggs before heading towards the road, so her legacy will continue,” Mazzarella said.

Sea turtles are federally protected by the federal Endangered Species Act and by state laws. In addition, local ordinances protect sea turtles by prohibiting lights that can be seen from the beach. Lights can be turned off, have red or amber (turtle-friendly) LED bulbs, or can be shielded from the beach to prevent them from disorienting sea turtles.

“The nest this turtle laid will be in danger of disorienting if the lights are not modified before the nest hatches. Last year, 105 of 404 nests disoriented on Anna Maria Island,” Mazzarella wrote in a press release, adding that Turtle Watch works with local municipalities, Florida Power and Light, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to identify lighting problems and turtle-friendly solutions.

That area of Gulf Drive is a state road and is managed by FDOT, which did not respond to a request for comment by press time.

It is unclear whether the lights that illuminate the crosswalk are manually operated or remain lit all night.

Mazzarella said that Turtle Watch is working with the City of Bradenton Beach and FDOT to find a solution to lighting that disorients sea turtles.

“I hope this brings awareness to the problem,” she said. “I understand lights for public safety, but they can be shielded or have a change in color.”

Two days after the turtle died, Mazzarella reported that progress was made with FDOT regarding the lights in the area.

“We had a tragic loss of a nesting turtle that was hit by a car on 6/19,” Mazzarella wrote in a June 21 email. “The good news is she became an ambassador identifying lighting problems on the Island and educated the public about the issue. FDOT notified us yesterday that they are turning off the new streetlights that illuminate the crosswalks until a turtle-friendly solution can be installed. Hopefully, this will prevent any future incidents and keep the turtles safe in these areas.”

Turtle Watch officials thanked Manatee County, Mote Marine Laboratory, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bradenton Beach Police Department for assisting in the response to the turtle.

The public can report lighting violations to local code enforcement officials. If you see a sea turtle in distress on Anna Maria Island, call Turtle Watch at 941-301-8434 or the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922. For more information, visit www.islandturtlewatch.com.

Loggerheads released after recovering from red tide

Loggerheads released after recovering from red tide

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Outdoors, Sea turtles.

ANNA MARIA – In a cooperative effort between Mote Marine Laboratory and The Florida Aquarium, two loggerhead sea turtles were released at Bayfront Park on May 30 after months of care and rehabilitation for the effects of red tide toxin.

“We are proud to collaborate with The Florida Aquarium in our shared mission to rescue and rehabilitate sea turtles,” Mote’s Rehabilitation and Medical Care Coordinator Lynne Byrd said in a press release. “By combining our expertise and resources, we can provide these magnificent creatures with the best possible care, ensuring their recovery and return to the big blue.”

The two rescued loggerhead sea turtles were nicknamed Valerie and Mahomes. Valerie was discovered floating nearshore off Longboat Key on Feb. 21. She appeared to have been affected by toxins from red tide, a waterborne algae that also can affect human respiration. She was transported to Mote’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital in Sarasota and began receiving injectable antibiotics and subcutaneous fluids until symptoms improved.

When Valerie arrived at the hospital, Mote scientists found that she already had a flipper tag and a passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag. The PIT tag, placed by Mote’s Sea Turtle Conservation & Research Program in 2019, gave the turtle a unique barcode identification number that allowed scientists to gain valuable insights into her migratory patterns, growth rates, survival and reproductive output, according to Mote.
Mahomes was found washed ashore off Casey Key Road in Sarasota County and also showed symptoms of red tide toxicity.

Initially admitted to Mote’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital on Feb. 13, Mahomes was later transferred to The Florida Aquarium Turtle Rehabilitation Center on Feb. 24 to better prepare Mote for what they anticipated to be high numbers of incoming sea turtle patients affected by toxic red tide exposure.

Mahomes received antibiotics and supportive care during the course of rehabilitation to help rid the sea turtle’s body of toxins.

Before the release, Mahomes was outfitted with a satellite tag by The Florida Aquarium and the Sea Turtle Conservancy.

“These tags provide critically important information about diving, feeding, migratory and activity patterns all while recording corresponding environmental data such as water temperatures. This data will help better understand the patient’s behavior after reintroduction and provides key insight for future rehabilitation and conservation efforts,” according to Mote.

Following their months of care, the loggerheads successfully cleared all health assessments mandated by wildlife officials for release.
“Every turtle matters, as they serve as ambassadors for the critical need to protect and conserve these creatures and the habitats they rely on,” Byrd said in the release. “Every rehabilitated sea turtle is a symbol of hope for the future of our oceans.”

Within Sarasota or Manatee county waters, if you see a stranded or dead sea turtle, dolphin or whale, please call Mote’s Stranding Investigations Program, a 24-hour response service, at 941-988-0212.

If you see a stranded or dead manatee anywhere in state waters or a stranded or dead sea turtle, dolphin or whale outside of Sarasota or Manatee counties, please call the FWC Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

Sea turtle nests are hatching

Sea turtle nests are hatching

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Outdoors, Sea turtles.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Plenty of little flipper tracks are on the beach and lots more are on the way as the first loggerhead sea turtle nests of the season begin to hatch.

At least 21 nests have hatched this month, according to Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring (AMITW) volunteers.

“After a nest hatches, we must wait for three days and then we excavate to collect data, which is sent to FWC (the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission),” AMITW’s Barbara Riskay said. “The first nest excavated on July 10 resulted in 74 hatched eggs.”

As of July 16, 10 nests have been excavated, showing that 809 hatchlings have made it to the Gulf of Mexico, she said. While this is a substantial number, it is necessary for female turtles to lay plenty of eggs because only about one in 1,000 turtle hatchlings will make it to adulthood. 

While more than 1,050 nests have been laid on the Island so far this season, turtle season continues until Oct. 31, so there will be thousands more hatchlings to come.

The most common turtle to nest on the Island is the loggerhead. Named for its massive, block-like head, the loggerhead is Florida’s most common sea turtle. Adults weigh 275 pounds on average with a shell about a yard long. The shell, ruddy brown on top and creamy yellow underneath, is very broad near the head and tapers toward the tail. Each of the turtle’s flippers has two claws.

According to the FWC, the main threat that loggerhead turtles face is accidental capture in shrimp and fishing nets such as longlines, which can entangle or snag sea turtles, and finfish trawls, beach seines, drift and gill nets. When captured in these nets, the turtles cannot escape and eventually drown.

The development of nesting beaches is also a threat to sea turtles, as their nests can be destroyed, and available nesting sites are limited. Beach armoring, such as building seawalls, is a threat, as the structures prevent the natural maintenance of beaches and sand dunes.

Coastal development also increases artificial lighting which can be detrimental to hatchlings, causing them to migrate toward the artificial light instead of the natural light they use to find the ocean.

Increased predation on nests from raccoons is also a significant threat to nesting sea turtles.

Other threats include exploitation for meat and eggs in some countries, habitat degradation from contaminants and pollutants and boat strikes.

Where's Bortie?

Where’s Bortie?

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Outdoors, Sea turtles.

Loggerhead sea turtle Bortie is headed away from Anna Maria Island Gulf waters, where she was spotted on April 17. Turtle watchers thought she might nest again on AMI – she was satellite-tagged after laying a nest in June 2018 on Coquina Beach (see the red star on the map) – but she swam by, perhaps because red tide appeared in local waters last month. Bortie competed in the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s 11th Annual Tour de Turtles in 2018, placing 10th out of 13 contestants with 351 logged miles. Turtle nesting season began locally on May 1 and ends on Oct. 31 Please keep beachfront lights out for nesting!

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Sea turtle to be satellite tagged

Turtle released in bay

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News, Outdoors, Sea turtles.

ANNA MARIA – A small crowd clapped and cheered as Mote Marine’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital staff released a loggerhead sea turtle, nicknamed “O-H,” into Tampa Bay from Bayfront Park on Wednesday, March 24.

Rehabilitated loggerhead sea turtle O-H makes the transition last week from a Mote Marine van to the beach at Bayfront Park and on into Tampa Bay. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Rehabilitated loggerhead sea turtle O-H makes the transition last week from a Mote Marine van to the beach at Bayfront Park and on into Tampa Bay. - Cindy Lane | Sun

- Cindy Lane | Sun

- Cindy Lane | Sun

- Cindy Lane | Sun

- Cindy Lane | Sun

Rehabilitated loggerhead sea turtle O-H makes the transition last week from a Mote Marine van to the beach at Bayfront Park and on into Tampa Bay. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Rehabilitated loggerhead sea turtle O-H makes the transition last week from a Mote Marine van to the beach at Bayfront Park and on into Tampa Bay. - Cindy Lane | Sun

- Cindy Lane | Sun

- Cindy Lane | Sun

- Cindy Lane | Sun

- Cindy Lane | Sun

- Cindy Lane | Sun

- Cindy Lane | Sun

The release was in view of the Anna Maria City Pier, where Mote Marine plans to establish a marine educational outreach center. Officials from Mote and the city are negotiating terms.

The turtle was floating in a residential canal in Bradenton on Dec. 12, 2020 when a family spotted it and called Mote’s Stranding Investigations Program. After transport to the turtle hospital, O-H was diagnosed with buoyancy issues and a missing right rear flipper.

Over the course of treatment, O-H overcame the buoyancy issues, eventually moving to one of Mote’s large medical pools, where it was treated with antibiotics, antifungals and folic acid.

Loggerheads are a common sight around Anna Maria Island, where sea turtle nesting season begins on May 1 and lasts through Halloween.

If you see a distressed or deceased sea turtle, manatee, dolphin or whale in Sarasota or Manatee counties, report it to Mote’s Stranding Investigations Program 24 hours a day at 888-345-2335. In other Florida counties, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.

When calling, be ready to provide a thorough description of the animal, its behaviors and the location, and take photos and video if possible.

Mote advises against attempting to rescue any animal in distress.

Where's Bortie Too

Where’s Bortie Too?

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Outdoors, Sea turtles.

HOLMES BEACH – Bortie Too has laid her second nest on Anna Maria Island at 66th Street,  Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Director Suzi Fox says.

According to her satellite tag tracking chart, Bortie Too checked out Siesta Key beach as a prospective nesting spot first, but stopped short of coming ashore and swam back to Anna Maria Island, where she laid an earlier nest on June 21.

The loggerhead sea turtle has traveled 129 miles since being tagged and released after nesting on Coquina Beach last month.

She will compete in the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s 12th Annual Tour de Turtles beginning Aug. 1. The annual event is part of the Conservancy’s research project tracking satellite-tagged turtles to determine where and how far they migrate. The group uses satellite telemetry to track turtles released from beaches in Florida, Costa Rica, Panama and Nevis.

Bortie Too is sponsored by the Conservancy, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, Waterline Marina Resort in Holmes Beach and Bortell’s Lounge in Anna Maria, for which she is named.