Rescued green turtle to be released
“Spring break cleanup is always rough, but this was the worst yet,” Mark Taylor, beach tractor driver for Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources, said April 24.
“One hole was so large that my tractor got stuck in it, had to get towed out and could’ve turned over,” he added.
Taylor, who rides a tractor and rakes the beach five days a week, said he has seen a lot of large holes left unfilled on the beach during and following spring break and some of these holes appeared to be dug with large shovels, not toys.
He also noted that even smaller holes dug with toy shovels could be harmful to walkers and wildlife.
“Even if it’s only a foot in diameter, if the hole is 2-feet deep someone could get seriously injured,” Taylor said.
Sea turtle nesting season started May 1, which means Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch volunteers walk a designated 1-mile stretch of beach each day, just after sunrise, looking for signs of nesting activity and, later in the season, signs hatchlings emerged from nests.
AMITW executive director Suzi Fox said volunteers have been injured on morning walks by falling into holes on the shoreline.
Holes also can become traps or impediments for female sea turtles, which must make their way on land to nest.
It’s the only time they leave the water and its unfamiliar territory.
Some beachfront cities, including Panama Beach City, adopted ordinances banning metal tools on the beach that are more than 14 inches long, including the handle.
Violators in Panama City Beach receive a verbal warning and a $25 fine.
Additionally, some cities, like Cocoa Beach, have a “beach rules” page on the city website to help inform people of regulations.
None of the three island municipalities have an ordinance in place prohibiting metal tools on the beach, but this could soon change.
According to Fox, Anna Maria is working on an ordinance and she suggested Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach do the same. She said the three cities could adopt the same ordinance, cutting down on legal fees.
“Without an ordinance, the police can’t enforce it,” Fox said April 23.
Meanwhile, code enforcement officers in the island cities are filling holes at sunset — after beachgoers depart and before morning walkers arrive.
For several years, Holmes Beach code enforcement officer JT Thomas has regularly patrolled the beach in the evenings, informing people about sea turtle nesting season and asking them to fill in their holes and knock down castles.
“It’s about problem-solving, not punishment,” Thomas said. “We talk with people, explain the danger of holes to walkers and sea turtles, and people are very happy to comply.”
He added, “Who doesn’t love sea turtles?”
Taylor said an ordinance would be “a good first step” and he agrees that outreach and education also are effective tools.
Some holes are the result of sandcastle building, which also is an impediment to sea turtles.
He noted the holes often are adjacent to large sandcastles, which he leaves as long as he can for people to enjoy but, inevitably, he uses sand from the castles to fill the holes.
“I don’t want to spoil their day,” Taylor said. “You can dig to China if you want, just fill it in before you go home.”
To report a large hole on the beach or for assistance with other possible code violations, please contact code enforcement for the appropriate city.
For more information about AMITW, or to report a sick, injured or dead sea turtle, contact Fox at suzilfox@gmail.com or 941-778-5638.