Hundreds More Baby Turtles Wash Onshore Along Coast
Posted: 11:56 am EDT October 15, 2007Updated: 12:33 pm EDT October 15, 2007
VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. -- Wildlife biologists are combing Volusia County beaches, where hundreds of baby sea turtles are washing up on shore. It comes only days after Volusia County released 1,500 of them back into the ocean.
SLIDESHOW: Images Of Turtles Being Rescued
LAST WEEK: 1,500 Turtles Released After Rehab
Biologists are finding the turtles in New Smyrna Beach north to Ormond Beach. They're finding most of them in seaweed that normally protects them out in the ocean, but strong currents have been washing it ashore the past two weeks.Monday morning, Beach Patrol, turtle patrol and people just out walking started finding the little turtles all over the place. Just about every lifeguard station had a crate or two or three of them ready to take over to Volusia County's Marine Science Center.The facility has been flooded since last week with a record number of the reptiles. They're having to use plastic swimming pools and big tubs, whatever they can, to hold onto them all and try to nurse them back to health.The situation is so hectic, Eyewitness News has learned the head of the Marine Science Center is actually having to keep some at her home until she can get them to the center.Daytona is starting to get a little bit crowded with tourists coming in for Biketoberfest this week and biologists are getting a lot of reports that people finding the turtles don't know what to do with them, so they're putting them back in the water. Biologists say that's about the worst thing for the animal. If you find one, find a lifeguard and they'll take care of it from there.
Biologists are finding the turtles in New Smyrna Beach north to Ormond Beach. They're finding most of them in seaweed that normally protects them out in the ocean, but strong currents have been washing it ashore the past two weeks.Monday morning, Beach Patrol, turtle patrol and people just out walking started finding the little turtles all over the place. Just about every lifeguard station had a crate or two or three of them ready to take over to Volusia County's Marine Science Center.The facility has been flooded since last week with a record number of the reptiles. They're having to use plastic swimming pools and big tubs, whatever they can, to hold onto them all and try to nurse them back to health.The situation is so hectic, Eyewitness News has learned the head of the Marine Science Center is actually having to keep some at her home until she can get them to the center.Daytona is starting to get a little bit crowded with tourists coming in for Biketoberfest this week and biologists are getting a lot of reports that people finding the turtles don't know what to do with them, so they're putting them back in the water. Biologists say that's about the worst thing for the animal. If you find one, find a lifeguard and they'll take care of it from there.
Previous Stories:
- October 12, 2007: 1,500 Baby Turtles Returned To Sea After Washing Onshore
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