The turtle, which weighed between 500 and 600 pounds, was discovered around 7:30 a.m. disorientated on the beach at Delnor-Wiggins State Park, according to Collier County Parks and Recreation officials.

It is the first time a leatherback sea turtle has been spotted on Collier’s shores, said Maura Kraus, principal environmental specialist with Collier County Parks and Recreation.

The adult female turtle was believed to be from Costa Rica because she had a metal tag on her rear leg flipper, officials said.

Officials believe the turtle may have started a nest on the beach. Kraus said the turtle made a circular orientation, which is a large area of disturbed sand that leatherbacks create after nesting, possibly to throw off predators.

“To the best of our knowledge, we haven’t had a nesting (of a leatherback turtle) in Collier,” Kraus said.

If it was laying a nest, it was a few months early — leatherback nesting season begins in March.

Around 10 a.m. officials used shovels to guide the turtle back to the water. However, it turned back toward the shore. Mote Marine Lab officials in Sarasota were called to aid in the rescue.

Around 11 a.m., the turtle crept back into the water and swam out of sight.

The turtle may have been affected by the cold weather, Kraus said.

“We just hope that she doesn’t come back,” Kraus said.

The turtle’s shell was 57 inches wide and officials believe it may have been injured on shore. Kraus said she believed the turtle was healthy and had superficial cuts on its flippers.

An area on the beach was marked off.

Several spectators snapped pictures of the gigantic sea turtle.

“It was magnificent,” said Rich Severini, 55, who was visiting Naples from Boston. “It’s a once in a lifetime chance to see something like that.”

Canadian residents Douglas Ramsden and his wife, Sandra added that they were pleased with the environmental support.

Officials in both Collier and Lee counties were watching the beaches to make sure the turtle didn’t come ashore again.

“We aren’t sure what was wrong with her or if there was anything wrong with her, but it’s just not normal for them to be crawling around on the beach in January,” Kraus said.

Connect with Tracy X. Miguel at www.naplesnews.com/staff/tracy_x_miguel/

Source: Naples Daily News

The camera was funded by the Florida Keys Tourist Development Council and was focused on three separate loggerhead sea turtle nests. Nest #1 was expected to hatch between Aug. 17 and Aug. 25, yet no hatchlings emerged. Nest #2 hatched during the nighttime hours on Aug. 27. Due to natural predation by nearby raccoons, a small number of hatchlings were scavenged, yet 80 eggs hatched successfully. Unfortunately, a technical malfunction prevented video from being recorded, however a video of the nest’s excavation is available for view below.

Nest #3 hatched during just before 9 p.m. on Sept. 1. A video recording of that hatch is in the viewer below.

Click here to see the hatching video.

Although they have survived for millions of years, sea turtle populations are plummeting — and volunteers are working to help protect the precious eggs laid on southwest Florida’s beaches — and ensure the survival of these ancient mariners. Both the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation and Turtle Time, Inc. rely on volunteers to serve as “sea turtle sentinels” during the summer nesting season. Volunteers help locate and protect sea turtle nests, and serve as roving ambassadors for the mammoth mothers and their beguiling babies.

Click here to view the archived segment.

Click for a larger view.

Just in time for loggerhead sea turtle hatching season, a new poster is available from Turtle Time, Inc. to help save sea turtles. The poster is titled “First Impressions” and features an image of a loggerhead hatchling crawling across the sand by renowned fine art photographer Alan S. Maltz. Sea turtle nesting and hatching season runs from May 1 to Oct. 31.

The poster was created as a new approach to educating the public about the plight of endangered and threatened marine turtles. The goal was to use art as a medium for environmental education and awareness. The project was made possible by a grant from West Coast Inland Navigation District and artistic and professional contributions from Alan S. Maltz.

“Most posters are displayed for awhile and then thrown away,” says Eve Haverfield, Founder and Director of Turtle Time, Inc. “We created this poster to be revered as a work of art. We envision it will be collected and saved and sustain a long-term impact.”
Haverfield will distribute the posters to interested Lee County businesses, visitors and residents. If you would like to receive a poster, contact Turtle Time at (239) 481-5566 or eve@turtletime.org. Donations are welcomed and can be sent to: P.O. Box 2621, Fort Myers Beach, Florida 33932. A limited number of posters are available.

Turtle Time, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the recovery and continued survival of marine turtles. Established in 1989, the group is the Florida state-permitted monitoring organization for sea turtle activity from Fort Myers Beach to the Lee-Collier County line. Daily patrols during the nesting season are conducted to gather important scientific data about population estimates, distribution of nests, nesting patterns and hatching success rates.

Alan S. Maltz is the Official Fine Art Photographer for Florida named by VISIT FLORIDA and the Official Wildlife Photographer of Florida named by the Wildlife Foundation of Florida. His work graces private, public and corporate collections throughout the world, including the Carter Center and Presidential Library in Atlanta; American Airlines Arena and Carnival Cruise Lines in Miami; Southwest Florida International Airport in Ft. Myers, Fla.; and Canson in Caen, France.

Maltz is the author and publisher of several award-winning art books, including “Key West Color” and “Miami City of Dreams.” His latest book, “Florida … Beyond the Blue Horizon,” was selected as the Official Coffee Table Book of Super Bowl XLI and received numerous awards such as Best Florida Book for Adults and Best Interior Design by the Florida Publishers Association. His fifth book, “Visions of Beauty: The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel” will be published in the fall of 2009.