Teenagers Rescue Sea Turtle in a Heroic Act
Aaron Titshaw and Will Mercer, just a couple of teenagers enjoying another sunny day on the waters near Carrabelle, Florida. What would happen to them next is something they would never expect on such an ordinary day. Little did they know, a sea turtle just yards away was on its way to a slow and painful death; however, the two teens spotted it in the nick of time. This particular turtle was wrapped about 25 times in fishing line as well as being caught inside a crab trap. Using their wits, the boys carefully cut the turtle free using a knife, while taking care to allow the victim to breathe properly. After the turtle was freed, it swam away apparently unharmed. It is standard procedure to contact Florida Fish and Wildife immediately after an injured or trapped sea turtle is spotted, but officials are doubtful that this unfortunate turtle would have survived long enough for help to arrive. Had it not been for a couple of caring and intelligent teenagers, this sea turtle would have come to an unfortunate demise.
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Crime & Punishment
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Ecology
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Miscellany
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Did You Know…
Turtles that spend most of their lives on land have their eyes looking down at objects in front of them. Some aquatic turtles, such as snapping turtles and soft-shelled turtles, have eyes closer to the top of the head. These species of turtle can hide from predators in shallow water, where they lie entirely submerged except for their eyes and nostrils. Near their eyes, sea turtles possess glands that produce salty tears that rid their body of excess salt taken in from the water they drink.
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Photo from Teresa Titshaw.
