First Time In 30 Years Baby Turtles Hatch On Key West Beach
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
KEY WEST (CBSMiami) - For the first time in nearly three decades, baby loggerhead turtles have hatched on a busy Key West beach.
Ralph Capone, president and founder of the Key West Sea Turtle Club, said turtles hadn't hatched successfully at Higgs Beach since the 1980s because there's not enough sand for a turtle to dig and lay eggs — it's mostly coral.
But in May, a turtle dug a hole and laid her eggs near a beach volleyball court. County employees temporarily took down the court and built protective fencing around the nest.
County officials said the babies hatched Sunday night and 104 turtles headed to sea.
Capone said he found four infertile eggs and two hatchlings that did not survive. One live hatchling straggler was escorted to the sea later that night.
(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
