ANNA MARIA ISLAND, Fla. — Members of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch say light pollution is to blame for the deaths of 55 loggerhead turtle hatchlings that were hit by cars on Gulf Drive in Bradenton Beach last week.
Kristen Mazzarella, executive director of the conservation group, said the hatchlings came from multiple nests along a half-mile stretch of the main road. She said they were confused by lights from homes and businesses, and crawled toward the street instead of the gulf.
“It’s pretty unusual,” Mazzarella said. “I’ve been doing this for 28 years and I’ve never seen that many hatchlings (killed) in one day.”…