Late Sunday night, Ocean Ridge resident Kim Jones stumbled upon a Bonfire Party at Boynton Inlet Beach. Stunned by an ever- growing crowd and ten foot fire ablaze; steps away from Green Sea Turtle and Loggerhead nests," Kim Jones was broken hearted to find that the turtle markers had become kindling! "The firewood... It was made from the stakes marking their nests!," Jones reports.
"The Turtle Lady,"as she is known out and about is forty year sea turtle volunteer and enthusiast. Jones tells of the risk that fires, lights, unmarked nests and beach traffic pose on the hatchlings; it turns out turtle nesting is a bit technical...
A turtle lays a nest; the said nest is then pinpointed, registered and marked with a GPS. Nests are extremely fragile during the incubation period of 10-14 days. The eggs are protected by a cage. If there are no visable markers; there is no way to protect the nests. Thet become easy prey; especially if the hatchlings can't find the way to the ocean. They become lost when blinded by artificial light; as light serves as their internal compass to the ocean.
Turtle Numbers have steadily risen in Palm Beach County and it would be a shame to reverse the trend! Jones and yours truly have called the office of Paul Davis, Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Manager and left messages which await response. Jones claims she tried to report the damage nests in person to (an unknown entity) who allegedly drove by in an ATV; ignored the damaged nests and was unresponive to her. Turtle Nesting Season is vital to the ecology of SFL. The once endangered turtles are doing well... hopefully more locals will join to help keep it that way.
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