FWC catches man stealing sea turtle eggs

A man is caught red-handed poaching sea turtle eggs off a Florida beach.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission posted this note on its Facebook page.

Our biologists contacted law enforcement after receiving information about someone poaching sea turtle eggs from a beach behind a residence. Our officers began increasing patrols in the area to monitor for illegal activity. After a few days of additional patrols, officers saw a man taking eggs from a female loggerhead sea turtle as she was laying them. They immediately arrested the man, who was in possession of 107 eggs. He was booked into jail on a third degree felony charge and faces stiff penalties. 15 of the eggs had to be kept for evidence and for DNA testing, but the remaining 92 eggs were reburied by our biologists, with hope they will hatch later this year. Remember to protect wildlife this Independence Day and maintain a safe distance – beachfront fireworks may disturb nesting shorebirds and might even cause sea turtles not to lay their eggs!