Search on for Suspects Who Hurt Turtle, Stole Babies

Shore Animal Control is looking for help finding the people responsible for injuring a turtle and taking the turtle's babies.

The incident took place on Tuesday at the Cox Hall Creek Wildlife Management Area in Villas, Lower Township.

Cox Hall Creek is a popular hiking and fishing area in Villas and a former summer retreat featuring trails, a lake, and a sunflower field.

According to a Facebook post, the crime was reported to Shore Animal Control, which handles animal control services for several municipalities in Cape May County, Atlantic County, and Cumberland County.

LOWER : Information needed!!!! It was reported that some juveniles might have injured this turtle at Cox Hill Creek Park and taken her babies. Anyone with any information please call 1-800-351-1822 or Lower PD.

 

Turtle Nesting Season

We are in the height of Sea turtle nesting season, when female turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. 

 These nests are usually laid on beaches, and the eggs incubate for about two months before hatching. After hatching, the baby turtles, called hatchlings, emerge from the nest and make their way to the ocean. 

According to Pet MD, during the last weeks of gestation, the pregnant female spends less time in the water and more time on land, smelling and scratching at the ground in search of the perfect place to lay her eggs. Typically, turtles select a sunny spot with sandy or moist soil to make a nest.

People React Angerly to News About Harming Turtles

As you might expect, people commenting on the Shore Animal Control post are extremely angry about the animal abuse being described.

I've safely moved 18 turtles across the street this year and this post infuriates the phuck out of me 

You can tell a lot about a person by the way they treat an animal! What goes around comes around!

This just made me sick, heart sick, sick to my stomach. I am so upset, angry, sad. Can this poor turtle be saved?