Leatherback Turtle in Sowal

Awesome! I would love to see one of them. I edited out the location, perhaps I am overprotective, even so...

Awesome! I would love to see one of them. I edited out the location, perhaps I am overprotective, even so...

That is terrific news, especially since that Leatherback was found in BMB last year, apparently killed from propeller wounds.

Sorry I missed it. But I had a leatherback surface in Seagrove close(10 ft) behind me one day. My guess was 6 ft across the back over 500lbs. Hope there's plenty like them around. I did see a smaller one this year close to shore but not nearly as big. There's lots of them out there but they still need protected.

I would guess that there aren't many Leatherbacks out there, since they are still on the Endangered Species list.

The Leatherbacks do grow rather large. They are the world's largest known turtle -- WoW!

true that SJ, not many leatherbacks but saw up to 30 turtles a day while fishing recently. So i hope their comin back. Just hope thet don't land at the Retreat. I think SoWal's finest would run out of zip ties since metal cuffs probably wouldn't fit their fins.

true that SJ, not many leatherbacks but saw up to 30 turtles a day while fishing recently. So i hope their comin back. Just hope thet don't land at the Retreat. I think SoWal's finest would run out of zip ties since metal cuffs probably wouldn't fit their fins.

:funn:

I love turtles! I saw one in the bay a couple months ago and was so excited I almost fell out of the boat.

One of the coolest things EVER is seeing them hatch!

Let's get the crap off the beach so they can nest!

You are a good egg Kurt. Editing can be funn and lifesaving!

Cool.

Never seen a leatherback, but have seen many hairybacks on the beach.

Hope they don't get stuck in one of those Seaside turtle traps!

Awesome! I would love to see one of them. I edited out the location, perhaps I am overprotective, even so...

That's fine but they also have a website... http://www.seaturtlewatch.com/index.htm

Just remember, LEAVE THE NESTS ALONE!!!!

Do you WANT people disturbing the nest? Why do you keep posting info on how to find it? Yes, the info exists, but make them work for it!

I think it is nice to see the link and read about the turtle nests, as well as see photos of the nests and tracks. Seeing the photos may keep people from getting out there on their own just to see what it looks like.

Do you WANT people disturbing the nest? Why do you keep posting info on how to find it? Yes, the info exists, but make them work for it!

I really doubt that the people who follow a link from this message board will go bother a turtle nest.

It is the ones who are at the beach this morning, with their "condo tents" and trash-on-the-beach mentality that we need to worry about, as in "Hey Kids- go stand on that thur turtle nest and let me take a picture!!", which is then followed by the dad showing the kids how to crunch a beer can on his forehead and throw it in the water.

I believe that disturbing an endangered species is a felony, so be very careful of where you set your beach crap. You could end up in jail for killing an Endangered Leatherback Turtle. I wonder if the same could be said if the turtle tried to go toward the bright lights at a Tom Thumb, once leaving the nest, and ended up dying because of it.

If you go to a turtle nest, all you will be able to see is sand, and caution tape. Nothing to see, keep it moving.

I'm a bit overprotective when it comes to the turtles.

I don't worry about the regular posters, but I've pretty much given up on people's ability to figure out appropriate behavior and there are lots of lurkers!

FYI - "Sea turtles are protected by the Endangered Species Act and only those with special permits are allowed to touch the nests, turtles, or hatchlings. There is a $2,500.00 reward for information leading to the conviction of violators. To report a violation, contact a State, Federal, or local law enforcement officer."

Please teach your kids that Sea Turtles (and animals in general) are not toys.

Yes, even though we all occasionally see turtles while out on the water, all species are all still way down in numbers and all are threatened with extinction. This leatherback nest is a bright spot in an otherwise dismal turtle season thus far in Walton County. We all celebrated around the nest yesterday morning!

This is only the 12th nest of the year, which is way down from historic numbers. That's really the bigger story of the season so far. The turtles are being hit from every direction--killed by longlining and trawls at sea, collisions by boats, dredging, coastal pollution, poaching outside the U.S., and if a mother defies the odds and comes ashore to nest she might find too many people, too much light, and beaches squeezed by risky waterfront development.

Here's a look at recent years for Walton County, where sea turtle nesting is on a downward trend. The key stat is the one at the far right--nests per mile, which has dropped below one:


Table 3.2

Thanks for the information. The turtles are truly a magic part of our environment and it is sad what is happening. I think we would all be wise to be more cognizant of how we are called to be stewards of the land...when we honor the land, we save the turtles, and ourselves.

one of my favorite quotes:

"We and our country create one another...our land passes in and out of our bodies just as our bodies pass in and out of our land...therefore, our culture must be our response to our place. Our culture and our place are images of each other and inseparable from each other, and so neither can be better than the other. In short, what we do to the land, we do to ourselves".

Wendell Berry, American farmer, poet, and author of many books about the land.

Thanks for the information. The turtles are truly a magic part of our environment and it is sad what is happening. I think we would all be wise to be more cognizant of how we are called to be stewards of the land...when we honor the land, we save the turtles, and ourselves.

one of my favorite quotes:

"We and our country create one another...our land passes in and out of our bodies just as our bodies pass in and out of our land...therefore, our culture must be our response to our place. Our culture and our place are images of each other and inseparable from each other, and so neither can be better than the other. In short, what we do to the land, we do to ourselves".

Wendell Berry, American farmer, poet, and author of many books about the land.

He is from Kentucky, and his farm is not far from where we lived. He is a conservation giant.

yeah, he is one of my favorites. His poems are awesome.

Wow, how awesome is this! Isn't Mother Nature the greatest...

Amen, ozbeachmom ...6 feet wide, awesome...
BeachSteelers, 500lbs.,10 feet away Did you get out or what?

Thanks for the information. The turtles are truly a magic part of our environment and it is sad what is happening. I think we would all be wise to be more cognizant of how we are called to be stewards of the land...when we honor the land, we save the turtles, and ourselves.

one of my favorite quotes:

"We and our country create one another...our land passes in and out of our bodies just as our bodies pass in and out of our land...therefore, our culture must be our response to our place. Our culture and our place are images of each other and inseparable from each other, and so neither can be better than the other. In short, what we do to the land, we do to ourselves".

Wendell Berry, American farmer, poet, and author of many books about the land.

I love that quote. But if we don't learn how to respect and care for ourselves (our minds, and our bodies), and teach the next generation to do the same, how will we ever really learn to respect and care for our environment?