Florida: Ray Saunders and Carl Cobb poached more than 500 Loggerhead sea turtle eggs

FLORIDA -- Two men are facing criminal charges for poaching hundreds of sea turtle eggs in St. Lucie County.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission arrested Raymond Saunders, 50, and Carl Cobb, 60, both of Riviera Beach.

The two are accused of stealing more than 500 Loggerhead sea turtle eggs in a rural beach area of North Hutchinson Island early Wednesday morning. A tip from a nest watch volunteer led to the arrests.

Saunders and Cobb will be in court Thursday morning.

The men are facing third degree Felony charges of possession of more than 11 marine turtle species/eggs and illegal taking/distribution of sea turtle eggs.

Experts reburied the eggs with the hope that they can be hatched.

Sea turtle eggs are considered a delicacy in some cultures, and can be sold for $20 – $30 per dozen.

“There is a market that goes on in this area for illegal harvest of sea turtle eggs, we speculate that may be the motivator for this kind of situation, but all of that will have to be determined as the investigation continues,” said Carol Lynn Parrish with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

While sea turtle egg poaching is not common, Parrish says it’s not unheard of.

In July 2016, FWC arrested 49 year-old Glenn Robert Shaw of Tequesta for allegedly stealing 107 eggs from a nest behind a Jupiter Island home.

These cases, Parrish said, shows the importance of the public remaining vigilant and reporting any suspicious activity.

People who suspect illegal activity or see injured wildlife can call Florida Fish and Wildlife’s 24 hour hotline at 1-888-404-3922.

Loggerhead Nesting In Florida:
The loggerhead turtle is the most common sea turtle found in Florida. It has a reddish-brown shell and is named for its large head. Adults can weigh between 200 and 350 pounds and can reach 3 feet in length. Loggerheads typically nest in Florida from April to September.

Females return to their nesting beach every two or more years (average 2.7 years) to lay an average of 4.1 clutches, one about every 14 days (Witherington et al. 2006). Each nest contains an average of 114 eggs (Brost et al. 2015).

Laws:
Sea turtles are either endangered or threatened (the loggerhead is the only species that has a population high enough to be only threatened in Florida). They are protected under the Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 and  Florida's Marine Turtle Protection Act (379.2431, Florida Statutes).

Florida Statutes (F.A.C. Rule 68E-1) restrict the take, possession, disturbance, mutilation, destruction, selling, transference, molestation, and harassment of marine turtles, nests or eggs.  Protection is also afforded to marine turtle habitat.

A specific authorization from Commission staff is required to conduct scientific, conservation, or educational activities that directly involve marine turtles in or collected from Florida, their nests, hatchlings or parts thereof, regardless of applicant's possession of any federal permit.

ARREST INFO:
Full Name: Carl Lawrence Cobb
Gender: Male
Arrest Age:60
Date:05/24/2017
Time: 5:55 PM
Total Bond: $7500
Charges

1. A Person,firm Or Corp That Illegally Possess More Than 11 Marine Turtle Eggs. BOND: $3750
2. Any Person That Illegally Takes Distrubs Mutilates Destroys Causes To Be Destroyed Transfers Sells Offer To Sell Molest Or Harrasses Any Marine Turtle Species Nest Eggs. BOND: $3750

PREVIOUS ARRESTS:

Full Name: Carl Lawrence Cobb
Date:01/07/2010
Time: 8:29 PM
Arresting Agency: PBSO
Arrest Age:53
Current Age: 60
Gender: Male
Birthdate: 08/22/1956
Block: 1400 W 36th St
City: West Palm Beach, Florida 33404
Charges

1. SHOPLIFTING-PETIT FROM MERCHANT 2ND OR SUBSQ OFF. STATUTE: 812.015-2801
2. CRIMES AGAINST PERSON-RESIST PROP RECOVERY RETAIL MERCHANT OR FARMER. STATUTE: 812.015-2804

Full Name: Carl Lawrence Cobb
Date:06/23/2010
Time: 2:37 AM
Arresting Agency: PBSO
Personal Information
Arrest Age:53
Current Age: 60
Gender: Male
Birthdate: 08/22/1956
Block: 1400 W 36th St
City: West Palm Beach, Florida 33404
Charges

1. FAILURE TO APPEAR-FAILURE TO APPEAR. STATUTE: 843.15-3163
1. NOTES: FTA FOR ARR: CT1} RETAIL THEFT BOND: $150
2. NOTES: CT2} RESISTING MERCHANT BOND: $150 DIV/NB JDG/ JOHNSON

ARREST INFO:
Full Name: Raymond Lamar Saunders
Date:05/24/2017
Time: 5:39 PM
Agency: St. Lucie County, Florida
Total Bond: $7,500
Charges

1. A Person,firm Or Corp That Illegally Possess More Than 11 Marine Turtle Eggs BOND: $3,750 
2. Any Person That Illegally Takes Distrubs Mutilates Destroys Causes To Be Destroyed Transfers Sells Offer To Sell Molest Or Harrasses Any Marine Turtle Species Nest Eggs. BOND: $3,750 

Previous arrests:
Full Name: Raymond Lamar Saunders
Arrest Age:41
Current Age: 50
Gender: Male
Birthdate: 02/26/1967
Block: 1400 W 29th St City: West Palm Beach, Florida 33404
Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Date:02/03/2009
Time: 4:58 PM
Arresting Agency: RIVIERA BEACH
Charges
#1 TRESPASSING-PROPERTY NOT STRUCTURE OR CONVEY STATUTE: 810.09-2773

Full Name: Raymond Lamar Saunders 

Arrest Age:44
Gender: Male
Birthdate: 02/26/1967
Block: 2500 Westchester Dr City: Riviera Beach, Florida 33407 Date:03/19/2011 Time: 5:49 PM
Arresting Agency: RIVIERA BEACH Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Charges

1. LOITERING - OR PROWLING STATUTE: 856.021-3246 

Full Name: Raymond Lamar Saunders
Arrest Age:47
Gender: Male
Birthdate: 02/26/1967
Block: 1100 W 29th St City: Riviera Beach, Florida 33404
Date:04/20/2014
Arresting Agency: RIVIERA BEACH
Location: Palm Beach County, Florida
Total Bond: $3,000
Charges

1. TRESPASSING - FAIL TO LEAVE PROPERTY UPON ORDER BY OWNER STATUTE: 810.09-2774 
2. COCAINE-POSSESS - POSSESS COCAINE STATUTE: 893.13-5330 BOND: $3,000 

Full Name: Raymond Lamar Saunders
Date:09/04/2014
Time: 11:25 AM
Arresting Agency: PBSO
Arrest Age:47
Gender: Male
Birthdate: 02/26/1967
Block: 1400 W 29th St City: West Palm Beach, Florida 33404
Location: Palm Beach County, Florida
Charges

1. BOOKED - RE-COMMIT STATUTE: 0004 

 (WINK News - May 26, 2017)

Rescued turtle heading to new home in San Diego

FLORIDA -- A loggerhead sea turtle named Sapphire is getting ready for a cross-country trip on Thursday to a permanent home in Southern California after convalescing for more than a year at the Florida Keys-based Turtle Hospital.

Final preparations were being made Wednesday for the 2,500-mile journey to The Living Coast Discovery Center near San Diego.

The 129-pound subadult female cannot be released in the wild because she can't submerge without the two pounds of weights that are attached with epoxy to its carapace. As the turtle continues to grow, the weights will eventually fall off and new weights will need to be installed.

"She has 'bubble butt' syndrome," said Turtle Hospital manager Bette Zirkelbach. "She is unable to evacuate air from her lungs due to a spinal cord injury, so unfortunately for Sapphire, she is non-releasable."

The turtle was first rescued in February 2010 with a wound that came from a boat strike, Zirkelbach said. She was treated for 45 days at the hospital and freed after appearing to be fully recovered. But in May 2013, she was found floating again off the Keys.

Soon after, state wildlife officials deemed the turtle needed a "forever home."

Zirkelbach said Sapphire is the only one of the 1,400 turtles the hospital has treated and freed in the past 28 years to return.

In order to monitor the turtle's health and comfort, Zirkelbach and hospital founder Richie Moretti will accompanying the turtle on FedEx flights from Miami to Memphis and then on to San Diego.

"Although 'Sapphire' can't be returned to the wild, the good news is that she will be able to act as an ambassador for her species, the endangered sea turtles," Zirkelbach said.

(The Associated Press - Sept 24, 2014)

Rescued turtle swims free after rehab

FLORIDA -- The 163-pound adult female loggerhead sea turtle, nicknamed “Farfalle” raised her head and eyed Mote caregivers the crowd of well wishers before crawling down the beach and swimming off into the surf.

Farfalle has been in treatment at Mote since May 22, when she was found entangled in a crab trap about a mile offshore of Siesta Key Public Beach. Members of the public reported the turtle to Mote’s Stranding Investigations Program, a 24-hour response service.

The crab trap rope around Farfalle’s neck caused a deep laceration. Entanglement in rope, nets, monofilament fishing lines and other marine debris is a common problem for marine animals in local waters and can lead to injury or death for dolphins, manatees and sea turtles.

Mote staff disentangled Farfalle and brought her to Mote’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital — one of Mote’s nationally recognized treatment facilities for sick and injured marine life. She received fluid therapy, food, antibiotics and excellent care until she was medically cleared for release.

(Longboat Key News - Sept 3rd, 2013)

Sea turtle rescued on Tybee Island

GEORGIA -- An emaciated loggerhead sea turtle that washed up on the south end of Tybee Island on Thursday is recuperating at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center.

Employees of the Tybee Department of Public Works spotted the animal on the 19th Street sandbar and alerted Tybee Ocean Rescue. About 9:15 a.m., three lifeguards swam out to the sandbar with a rescue board and ferried the 50-pound turtle back to shore just as they would an injured swimmer.

The lifeguards took the loggerhead by ATV to the Tybee Island Marine Science Center, said Capt. Hunter Robinson of Tybee Ocean Rescue.

There staffers kept it quiet and cool until Georgia sea turtle coordinator Mark Dodd could arrive to take the stranded animal to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island.

Dodd, a senior biologist with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, said the turtle’s concave bottom shell and atrophied muscles were signs of poor nutrition. At 30 inches long it was about two-thirds the size of mature females that come up on Georgia beaches to nest.

Strandings of live sea turtles are relatively rare, Dodd said. Strandings of live and dead sea turtles in Georgia are running at the same pace as last year, with 156 strandings reported as of Monday.
One spike of six strandings earlier this summer prompted DNR officials to board shrimp trawlers and examine them for the use of turtle protection devices on nets, Dodd said.

At the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, veterinarian Terry Norton found the stranded turtle to be “pretty debilitated and anemic.” He administered antibiotics and fluids and cleaned off its muddy and barnacle-encrusted shell.

The turtle had no obvious injuries but may have a blockage of its gut from shells or other food it had eaten, Norton said. If so, the fluids often resolve the problem.

By Thursday afternoon, Norton was cautiously optimistic, noting the teenage turtle — of undetermined sex — was “fairly strong” and “bright and alert.”

“I think he’ll do OK, but it’s hard to say,” Norton said.

(Savannah Now - August 16, 2013)

Florida: Coast Guard crew rescues loggerhead turtle

FLORIDA -- A Coast Guard crew from Station Cortez rescued a loggerhead turtle near Longboat Pass Inlet in Sarasota Sunday.

The crew was on patrol in the area when they were hailed by a passing boater who told them the turtle was in distress.

"We don't get a chance to save wildlife often, but when we do this mission it's very rewarding," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Preston Humbard, a crew member.

The rescued turtle was taken back to Station Cortez where it was transferred to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers.

(Bay News 9 - Jul 1, 2013)