Joy rider threatens Longboat turtle nests

Less than a week after Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium announced a record-breaking season for turtle nesting on Longboat Key, a man nearly maimed some of those nests during a joy ride on the beach Sunday.

The Longboat Key Police Department cited 27-year-old Devin Wellmeier in violation of a town ordinance, after he allegedly drove his 1999 Dodge truck onto the beach. Longboat Key Turtle Watch officials said none of the nests were damaged.

“It was just a boneheaded move,” said Chief Pete Cumming. “Apparently he didn’t know he couldn’t do that.”

Wellmeier, a Bradenton resident, allegedly used the temporary machinery access for trucks delivering sand for the beach renourishment project near Twin Shores Boulevard to drive onto the shoreline. The incident occurred at roughly 5:45 p.m.

“At the end of the day we put barricades up so that nobody drives there,” said Public Works Director Juan Florensa. “But apparently he moved the barricades out of the way, and drove onto the beach, then proceeded to get stuck.”

Wellmeier tried contacting a towing company, but the firm refused to respond, according to the police report. Longboat officers had the truck towed away after 7 p.m.

Despite leaving nests unharmed, the truck did leave tire ruts, said Turtle Watch Vice President Cyndi Seamon.

“It’s really bizarre,” she said. “We’re lucky there weren’t any nesting shorebirds there.”

In June 2015, two unknown suspects destroyed five turtle nests and killed two black skimmers  with an offroad vehicle on Anna Maria Island.

“I don’t know if they were ever caught,” Seamon said.