jimandsue60
New Member
We were boating in the ICW near Ft Myers, Florida at about 22 mph. I felt a very noticeable thump on the hull and wheel. I slowed to idle and saw something in the water behind us. We turned around and spotted a 20 inch or so sea turtle struggling in the water. We really did not who to call so we called the local police department who does have a couple of boats and routinely monitors the waters around Sanibel Island. They said they would contact FWC (Florida Wildlife Commission) we also tried to contact them without success. The water was a dark color due to the proximity of the Caloosahatchee River so the turtle blended in with the water color.
We stayed close to the turtle to prevent other boats from hitting it. About 45 minutes later a Sanibel Island Police boat showed up and retrieved the turtle from the water. We were heart broken to see a mangled flipper and the bottom of the shell shattered.
Sanibel Island has a wildlife rehab clinic called C.R.O.W. where the turtle was taken. Crow had our contact info from the police officer and contacted to let us know the turtle was an endangered Green turtle weighing about 50 pounds. They also gave us a patient number so we can check in on its progress.
I do not know if we were the first boat to hit it or if was injured prior to us hitting it. We tried to hail marine patrol on the VHF but were unsuccessful. We now have some local telephone numbers for FWC and local law enforcement programmed into our phones for future reference.
It is a sick feeling to injure a marine animal and to see it suffer. I feel good about how we dealt with it and will make a nice donation to the reahab clinic.
Our boat is coming out of the water today and I will check the hull for damage. I checked the prop and skeg and found no damage.
Jim
We stayed close to the turtle to prevent other boats from hitting it. About 45 minutes later a Sanibel Island Police boat showed up and retrieved the turtle from the water. We were heart broken to see a mangled flipper and the bottom of the shell shattered.
Sanibel Island has a wildlife rehab clinic called C.R.O.W. where the turtle was taken. Crow had our contact info from the police officer and contacted to let us know the turtle was an endangered Green turtle weighing about 50 pounds. They also gave us a patient number so we can check in on its progress.
I do not know if we were the first boat to hit it or if was injured prior to us hitting it. We tried to hail marine patrol on the VHF but were unsuccessful. We now have some local telephone numbers for FWC and local law enforcement programmed into our phones for future reference.
It is a sick feeling to injure a marine animal and to see it suffer. I feel good about how we dealt with it and will make a nice donation to the reahab clinic.
Our boat is coming out of the water today and I will check the hull for damage. I checked the prop and skeg and found no damage.
Jim
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