Laughing vandals killed birds, damaged turtle nests in beach rampage, officials say

[Baitball Blogger]

Laughing vandals killed birds, damaged turtle nests in beach rampage, officials say

Authorities are searching for a man and a woman who killed two black skimmer chicks and damaged five loggerhead sea turtle nests while driving a high-powered vehicle on the beach at Anna Maria Island, a barrier island on the coast of Manatee County..

The incident began at 10:30 p.m. Saturday almost exactly at the city line between Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach where the birds were hit and ended in Holmes Beach, between 30th and 27th streets, where the protected turtle nests, designated by stakes, were run over, said Suzi Fox, executive director of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring.

"According to witnesses, the people who were on the vehicle were laughing," Fox said Sunday afternoon. "Witnesses report that they aimed for the nests. You could hear the breaking of the stakes. There were a lot of people on the beach at that time. People were screaming at them to stop. It's a miracle they didn't hit any people. I'm upset about the chicks and turtles, but I am more upset that a child could have been hurt and that is unacceptable for us. We protect nature but we protect our children first."

By Sunday afternoon, police had not found the perpetrators, and Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch, which had found the damage at 6:30 a.m. Sunday, had posted "extra eyes" on the beach from 30th Street down to 27th Street since the turtles are due to hatch any day now, Fox said.


http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-birds-killed-sea-turtle-nests-damage-20150629-story.html

[joeybee12]

1. They should thank their lucky stars it's only the police going after them

and not me.

[Herman4747]

2. Loggerheads are endangered (n/t)

[Liberal_in_LA]

3. ugh