Loggerhead turtle washes ashore in Rehoboth Beach
A dead loggerhead sea turtle washed ashore May 26 in Rehoboth Beach, near the north end of the Boardwalk.
Marine Education, Research & Rehabilitation Institute volunteers responded to the scene. One of the volunteers said the turtle had been found against the rock wall and appeared to be dead from a boat propeller strike.
“It’s a shame,” said the volunteer, who declined to be identified.
If a person comes across a turtle or other marine wildlife, the best thing to do is to keep a distance and report sightings to MERR via a 24-hour reporting hotline, 302-228-5029. The stranding specialists from MERR will evaluate the animal for any signs of injury or illness, and will provide rescue if needed. In the case of a healthy, resting animal, MERR will set up a watch throughout the day to help it rest undisturbed.
The loggerhead sea turtle is a federally listed threatened species and a state-listed endangered species in Delaware. On the East Coast, loggerheads typically nest on sandy beaches from North Carolina to Florida.
For more information, go to merrinstitute.org.
Chris Flood has been working for the Cape Gazette since early 2014. He currently covers Rehoboth Beach and Henlopen Acres, but has also covered Dewey Beach and the state government. He covers environmental stories, business stories and random stories on subjects he finds interesting, and he also writes a column called Choppin’ Wood that runs every other week. He’s a graduate of the University of Maine and the Landing School of Boat Building & Design.
