Adult turtle found dead

Date: April 30, 2009
by: Robin Hartill | Community Editor

A Mote staffer measures the turtle before removing it from the beach.

An adult male loggerhead turtle was found dead Wednesday,
April 22, at the beach near Westchester Condominium, 4825 Gulf of Mexico Drive, by a person who was walking on the beach.

According to Hayley Rutger, public relations specialist at Mote Marine Aquarium, Mote officials examined the turtle and found a fishing hook in his throat and another stuck in his jaw. The turtle also had evidence of a previous boat strike, Rutger said.
Mote officials were unable to determine the length of time that elapsed between the turtle’s death and the discovery of its carcass.

Mote officials say that people who fish should avoid leaving behind monofilament fishing lines, which sea turtles and other marine animals often try to ingest.

“Basically, bring back what you take out with you,” Rutger said.