Emotional walk on the beachfront
To the editor:
Last Tuesday wasn’t the typical morning beach walk for me and my two Heeler pups, Jack and Ruby.
There is nothing better then a morning beach walk to start the day. But today’s beach walk was emotional, sad and beautiful. It had me thinking about life, love, my community and Thanksgiving. I’d like to share my experience with you.
My pups and I were entering the beach off Miramar Street. When I looked to the south the sunrise was exquisite, and as I turned towards the pier I could see a double rainbow reaching from the gulf over the island and into Matanzas Pass as if the island was getting hugged by a rainbow. As I passed the pier, the rainbow seemed to be getting closer, broken by clouds yet still a sight to see. I was looking out on the water when my pups began to drag me towards what I instantly knew was a sad sight. It was a deceased sea turtle.
As a diver, boater and a lover of all sea creatures I was so heartbroken by this. Questions began whirling in my mind. What kind of turtle was this? I wondered what had happened to this beautiful endangered turtle? Red tide? A possible hit by a boat? Old Age? Fishing line? Who should I call? After shedding a few tears, I knew I needed to get home to contact someone. As I started to walk away I looked up and realized the rainbow was right above us. I knew right then the rainbow was hovering and shining over this awesome once strong, gentle sea turtle.
When I got home I googled and found a phone number, after leaving a message my phone rang two minutes later. A woman named Eve from Turtle Time, a non-profit, listened as I described to her what I saw. I could hear the sadness in her voice too. I told her I thought it was a loggerhead but wasn’t certain. She asked if I could take some pictures while she notified the park to go pick the turtle up. When I got back to the turtle I snapped a few photographs, texted them to Eve and a few minutes later the park guys were there. It ended up being confirmed to be a fairly large endangered loggerhead.
This saddened me, and I recalled boating in Chesapeake Bay, Virginia with my husband years ago. All of a sudden my husband slowed way down squinting his eyes and yelled out “loggerhead”! He came to a stop, turned off the boat, and we watched with amazement while this awesome loggerhead sea turtle swam by. It was one of my favorite boat trips while living there.
Whatever the reason for this sea turtle’s demise I know that my Fort Myers Beach Community and our surrounding neighbors will all agree that it is our responsibility to be respectful and be responsible while boating or fishing. If you’re fishing don’t forget to leave with the gear you started out with, especially hooks and fishing line. Boaters stay aware and always keep your eyes out for the wildlife – you might just see an endangered sea turtle! Don’t follow, just put it in neural or shut it down, and enjoy the moment. Beach walkers pick up anything that might be harmful. One fishing line picked up could save a bird or a sea creature.
This Thanksgiving holiday I’d like to pause and give thanks to people like Eve, Turtle Time Inc, all not for profit organizations, Florida Fish and Wildlife conservation and our town and county park employees for their help with keeping our parks like Bodwitch Point and the beaches so nice.
As a community we should do what we can to help make it the best it can be!
If you want to volunteer or you find an injured, hooked or deceased turtle, you can call Turtle Time at 481-5566 or Florida Fish and Wildlife at 1-888-404-3922.
Jenn Rusk
Fort Myers Beach