Newly hatched sea turtles were found slaughtered on a North Florida beach, and evidence points to a stray pet, investigators say.
“Twenty-three sea turtle hatchlings … found dead near Second Street in Atlantic Beach likely were killed by an unleashed dog as the hatchlings emerged from their nest,” Atlantic Beach officials reported in an Aug. 21 Facebook post.
The tiny carcasses were discovered during a beach nest survey by the nonprofit Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol, which works to protect the five species of endangered sea turtles found in Florida waters. All are listed as federally protected under the Endangered Species Act, experts say…