Cheloniidae (Marine Turtle) Nest Predation

Authors

John Woolard, United States Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services
Richard M. Engeman, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service,Wildlife ServicesFollow
Henry T. Smith, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Park Service
John Griner, St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2-15-2004

Citation

Herpetological Review (2004) 35(4)

Comments

United States government work

Abstract

On 19 June 2003 at 0217 h, an opossum (Didelphis virginiana) was observed for 10 min while digging into a marine turtle nest and eating 4 eggs on the beach at St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park (SLIPSP) on Jupiter Island, Florida. The predation event was observed using night vision equipment as part of nightly patrols to protect turtle nests from raccoon (Procyon lotor) and armadillo (Dasypus noverncinctus) predation during the nesting season. After verification of an ongoing predation event, the opossum was euthanized and removed. Prior to implementing predator removal on this beach, up to 95% of the turtle nests were destroyed annually by raccoons. Sea turtle nesting and reproductive success at the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge (Florida), 1972-1995 (report to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, ARM Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge). In recent years, Armadillos, a species exotic to the east coast of Florida, have become severe predators of turtle nests.