Hundreds of sea turtle eggs scattered across Florida beach after Hurricane Ian

Laurie K. Blandford, Treasure Coast Newspapers
·1 min read
45

FORT PIERCE, Fla. –  Debbie McManus broke down crying when she walked onto the beach and saw hundreds of sea turtle eggs.

“It was a shock,” she said. “I didn’t expect to see this.”

McManus stopped by the south jetty at the Fort Pierce Inlet on the Atlantic early Thursday to see if the outer bands of Hurricane Ian had damaged a plaque there for her late grandson. She was surprised by all the trash washed up on the beach, including plastic and glass bottles tangled in seaweed.

“Then I looked up and saw (the eggs) all the way down the beach,” said McManus, 66. “I don’t know why it’s affecting me like this.”

“I just can’t get over it. I’ve never seen anything like this," Debbie McManus says after she discovered hundreds of broken and intact sea turtle eggs along the shoreline of Fort Pierce Jetty Park in Florida.
“I just can’t get over it. I’ve never seen anything like this," Debbie McManus says after she discovered hundreds of broken and intact sea turtle eggs along the shoreline of Fort Pierce Jetty Park in Florida.

Her job involves sea turtle education, and so much work is done to protect sea turtles, their nests and their eggs.

“Then you come out here and see this – something that was just Mother Nature,” McManus said. “I just can’t get over it. I’ve never seen anything like this."

REVERSE STORM SURGE? Why did water leave Tampa Bay during Ian?

THE JIM CANTORE EFFECT: What it means he shows up in your city

High tides, strong waves and strong winds from the storm likely disturbed the sea turtle nests on the beach. Sea turtle nesting season is March through October.

McManus  took photos and videos on her cellphone as she wiped away tears. Small birds had started picking at the eggs – some of them broken, some still intact.

“When you’re in agriculture, it’s all part of the circle of life,” McManus said. “But not this. Not this.”

Laurie K. Blandford is TCPalm's entertainment reporter and columnist dedicated to finding the best things to do on the Treasure Coast. Follow her on Twitter @TCPalmLaurie and Facebook @TCPalmLaurie. 

LIVE COVERAGE: Tropical Storm Ian still pounding Florida; first deaths reported 

CATEGORY 5 STORMS: How does Ian compare to the worst storms?

Hundreds of sea turtle eggs, seeds and coconuts are seen along the shoreline of Jetty Park on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Fort Pierce, Fla. The outer bands of Hurricane Ian disturbed the nests and eroded the shoreline of the beach.
Hundreds of sea turtle eggs, seeds and coconuts are seen along the shoreline of Jetty Park on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Fort Pierce, Fla. The outer bands of Hurricane Ian disturbed the nests and eroded the shoreline of the beach.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Ian winds scatter sea turtle eggs across Fort Pierce, Florida beach