Turtle watch: Disorientations a problem on AMI
Disorienting sea turtles are causing concern for turtle watchers on Anna Maria Island.
Three adult sea turtles have disoriented while attempting to nest on the beach in the city of Anna Maria since the first nest was found May 3.
“Three disorientations out of 17 nests is a lot,” Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring executive director Suzi Fox said May 17.
Disorientations typically do not occur this early in nesting season, Fox said. Disorientations typically happen in June and July.
Additionally, Fox said she does not remember another time when three disorientations occurred on the same night.
Disorientations appear as zigzag, nonlinear crawl marks on the beach. They can occur when artificial lighting distracts the female sea turtle on her way to nest. Some disorientations can result in nests, but most do not.
When a female turtle makes her way on the beach and deposits her eggs, crawl marks form a relatively straight line to the apex, the turtle’s chosen nest site, and then straight back to the Gulf.
“If we see an adult disorientation, it’s a major red flag,” she said.
The disorientations in the city of Anna Maria were in the same three-block area near Bean Point and Fern Street, Fox said.
Fox said she suspects, based on crawl patterns, that someone was following the turtles on the beach with a light, possibly to take videos.
Fox said people should refrain from using flashlights and cellphone lights on the beach at night.
She also said she saw quite a few properties out of compliance for lighting while reviewing the beach for nesting May 1-15.
People keep asking what time they can come out and see turtles, Fox said.
“This isn’t Disney World. We’re not going to tell you when the parade is coming in,” Fox said of the nesting turtles — who should not be bothered or harassed.
The Sea Turtle Conservancy has organized tours on the east coast for people to see sea turtles at night, but Fox said she does not do tours.
She also said adult sea turtle disorientations typically occur when there are more people on the beaches.
“In my opinion, we have a lot more people on our beaches this year,” Fox said.
However, when asked if she is concerned about increased crowds Memorial Day weekend leading to more disorientations, Fox said she is not.
She said she expects local law enforcement to have extra officers out for the weekend.
“We’ve been through a lot of these. The turtles have been through a lot of these,” Fox said, referring to the holiday weekend.
“The nests that we have marked off are safe. No one is to touch them,” she added.
“It’s more of a relief because I know each police department is going to step up and do extra. It kind of takes a load off me,” Fox said.
On Anna Maria Island, law enforcement includes the Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach police departments and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, which patrols Anna Maria.
Code enforcement officers also patrol the beaches in each of the island’s three cities.
Holmes Beach code compliance officer JT Thomas said code officers plan to show more presence on the beach during the holiday weekend.
For more information on AMITW, go to islandturtlewatch.com or call Fox at 941-778-5638.
To report wildlife or marine life in distress, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission hotline at 888-404-3922.