- May 6, 2024
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The fifth-annual Flagler Beach Turtle Fest celebrated the upcoming turtle nesting season, which kicks off May 1.
The festival, held Saturday, April 14, acts as the main fundraiser for the Flagler/Volusia Turtle Patrol.
In addition to fundraising for fuel and supplies, this year there was an extra push to encourage residents to be more observant.
“Every year it is important,” said Turtle Patrol volunteer Lori Ottlein. “This year, we’ve had an ongoing debate with fires on the beach — people wanting to have bonfires — and they’re detrimental to the turtles. The hatchlings will go to them.”
The annual festival usually ends with the release of a rehabilitated turtle back into the ocean. This year, however, there were no turtles ready to be released.
“We’ve had a number of dead ones on the beach and sick ones, but today we just didn’t have one well enough to release,” Ottlein said.
