What to Know
- Officials say eggs are being stolen from sea turtle nests along Southwest Florida beaches.
Officials say eggs are being stolen from sea turtle nests along southwest Florida beaches.
The harbor master for the city of Naples, Roger Jacobsen, tells the Naples Daily News that an egg theft discovered Monday is the fifth nest disturbance in about a month.
Jacobsen says eggs were completely removed from two nests and three others showed signs of interference, such as the removal of yellow tape marking them.
All five sea turtle species in Florida are protected, and it's illegal to harm them or their eggs.
Wildlife experts say only about one in 1,000 sea turtle hatchlings survive to adulthood. Under the Florida Marine Turtle Protection Act, stolen eggs carry fines of $100 apiece.
Jacobsen is telling beachgoers to call 911 if they see anyone disturbing the nests.
