Orange Beach sea turtle nest vandalized twice in two nights

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ORANGE BEACH, Ala. ( WKRG ) — Share the Beach volunteers discovered the vandalism Friday mornings while on their usual patrol in Orange Beach. It was the second time the same nest had been tampered with in two nights. Friday, the security screen used to keep predators out was no match for humankind.

Egg shells were found outside the nest and so were dead hatchlings, according to Shannon Holbrook with U.S. Fish and Wildlife. “It appears three eggs were pulled out of the nest and opened up and it looks like there was a hatchling that was almost completely formed but it didn’t make it.”

Volunteers were able to dig into the nest and find more eggs un-disturbed but their future is uncertain now that the nest has been opened. “Unfortunately, you get people out here late at night, alcohol may be involved, people are just doing things that aren’t right. I don’t know if they are curious or intending to do some harm,” said Holbrook.

Security camera footage around the nest may hold the key to finding the culprits. “I’m sure it’s some young kids that don’t know the consequences of their actions that are out here trying to be funny and goofing off or trying to impress someone and it’s just a shame,” said beachgoer Owen Ondruch vacationing with his family from Texas.

The loggerhead sea turtle nest was expected to hatch in the next couple of weeks. Now, it’s anyone’s guess if that will happen.

Anyone found guilty of disturbing a sea turtle nest to any degree could face a fine of up to $100 thousand and a one-year prison sentence. It is a federal offense.

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