JUPITER ISLAND, Fla. (WFLA) — A large sea turtle got a little turned around on Jupiter Island last month, the Fish and Wildlife Commission said.
A resident informed FWC of the unexpected guest, a pregnant female loggerhead, who was cooling off in a saltwater swimming pool.
Rescuers quickly mobilized, and a biologist from the FWC’s Sea Turtle Stranding Team arrived at the scene with assistance from Ecological Associates, The Nature Conservancy, Jupiter Island Police, and Martin County Fire Rescue.
FWC didn’t say how the turtle wound up in the pool, but she was unharmed and swiftly released back into the ocean.
Although disorientation from lights was not a factor in this particular incident, artificial lighting frequently contributes to sea turtles becoming disoriented near the shore. Female turtles nest on the beach at night and rely on moonlight to navigate back to the ocean.
The FWC shared some reminders on how to be a good neighbor to the gentle giants:
- Turn off beachfront lights and close curtains at night during nesting season
- Avoid using flashlights, phone lights or flash photography on the beach at night
- Clear all your belongings at the end of a beach day and fill in any holes you dug
If you spot an injured or stranded sea turtle, contact FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922). FWC
