Sea turtle dies after being hit by car on Anna Maria Island
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ANNA MARIA ISLAND, Fla. (WFLA) — A female loggerhead sea turtle died Wendesday morning after it was hit by a car, according to the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring (AMITWSBM) organization.
They said the turtle had nested in the dunes and was disoriented by streetlights at a crosswalk on Gulf Drive.
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The turtle died on the scene and will be taken for necropsy by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
“The good news is that she laid eggs before heading towards the road, so her legacy will continue.” Kristen Mazzarella, the Executive Director of AMITWSBM, said.
Credit: Alexis Krummick Credit: Alexis Krummick Credit: Alexis Krummick
The organization worries her nest will be in danger of disorientation if the lights are not modified before the babies hatch. In 2023, 105 of 404 nests were disoriented on the island.
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AMITWSBM is working with the FWC, Florida Power and Light, and the Florida Department of Transportation to find turtle-friendly lighting solutions, as lighting problems are crucial for these animals to find their way to the ocean.
Anyone who sees a sea turtle in distress on Anna Maria Island can call AMITWSBM at 941-301-8434 or FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.
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