FWC: Marine Turtle Egg Poacher Convicted, 38 Percent of Eggs Reburied Successfully

By  //  January 15, 2017

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Last summer, Florida Fish and Wildlife officers arrested a man stealing the eggs of a female loggerhead sea turtle as she was laying them. (FWC image)

FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION – Last summer, Florida Fish and Wildlife officers arrested a man stealing the eggs of a female loggerhead sea turtle as she was laying them.

Quick action from officers and biologists allowed for 92 of the poached eggs to be reburied with the hope for a future hatching.

Since then, the poacher has been convicted on charges of disturbing the nest of a marine turtle and felony possession of marine turtle eggs, and the eggs have hatched with a 38 percent success rate.

“Without the apprehension of the poacher and the quick actions of our staff, none of the eggs would have survived,” said Florida Fish and Wildlife officials on Facebook.

“This case demonstrates the value of our efforts to protect our sea turtles from dangers such as poaching.”

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Please report suspected wildlife violations or distressed sea turtles to the the Florida Fish and Wildlife Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) or by texting Tip@MyFWC.com from your cell.

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FWC biologists excavates the nest where the poached eggs were reburied to determine how many have hatched. (FWC image)
FWC biologists excavates the nest where the poached eggs were reburied to determine how many have hatched. (FWC image)