Posted on 09/24/2009 3:22:20 PM PDT by Peter Horry
A romantic marriage proposal on a Hilton Head Island beach Tuesday night had an unintended consequence - the death of about 60 federally protected loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings.
A man had placed about 150 luminarias - bags with lit candles inside - in the shape of a heart on the beach near Palmetto Dunes, according to volunteers with the Sea Turtle Project who monitor the nests.
After the proposal, the visiting couple apparently retired to their rental home without extinguishing the lights.
An estimated 60 baby sea turtles emerged from a nearby nest a short time later and became disoriented by the light, said Sarah Skigen, natural resources associate for the town of Hilton Head Island and a turtle patrol volunteer.
(Excerpt) Read more at thestate.com ...
way to go... it won’t be remembered as romantic ever again!
Aw, how sweet! A romantic evening they can always remember.....”Honey, remember when we killed all those baby turtles?”
That guy will be in PRISON longer than any murderer! Unless he’s a PROTECTED MINORITY.
What a shame.
Hey, just trying to make lemonade here, but...turtle soup?
Or, if you read the article, they'll get a warning not to do it again and a lecture from "furious turtle volunteers."
HAHAHAHAHA!
Well I am of the mindset if something in nature is so stupid...No matter what you do, they are bound to extinction.
Kinda reminds me of the Panda. They are so fat,lazy, and stupid. We have to FORCE them to breed.
There’s really no excuse, unless of course the bride and groom are environmentalists.
He should immediately undergo gender reassignment surgery. As a married “lesbian” couple they will receive not only protected status, but be absolved of any and all wrong doing.
Don’t believe it, how many would have died anyway?
Pray for America
It's not really stupidity that did the turtles in. It's their hard-wired navigation system when they're hatched. As soon as they come out from the sand, instinct compels them to follow the light that twinkles on the ocean water. Before oceanside condos and such, there was never any light on land, so this navigation system worked quite well.
Same with many species of insects. They navigate by the sun and moon and follow a straight line by keeping a directional compass in their heads. Artifical light at night is their downfall, however. They keep compensating for the astonishing "nearness" of the sun (candle) and fly right into it.
Dumb? Maybe. But there are more of them than us, so they must be doing something right.
But what do I know, the only thing I know about turtles is that the really big snappers here in Michigan make great stew...........
Whoopsie!
This stunt was so dumb I’m surprised Mark Sanford and his “soul mate” weren’t involved.
That’s too bad. We were vacationing in coastal Mexico a few years back, and we got to witness one of those hatches. Those little turtles were so cute and so determined to make it to the sea!
They would’ve also been awesome breaded and quickly pan-fried. Just kidding. Sort of... :)
I wonder how code enforcement officials will account for their time that night?
This is idiocy. All’s that is needed is an artificial “moon on the horizon” light buoy.
THE LOG OF Timothy Boardman, 24 years old, Carpenter’s mate in the ship Oliver Cromwell, 1778:
Aug. 6th: At Half Past 6 afternoon saw a Sail & Gave Chase. At 11, Gave her a Bow Gun which brought Her too. She was a Big Ship from New Orleans in Missipi Bound to Cape Francois, a Spainiard. Went on Board. Kept her all night, & Lett her Go at 10 o’clock the next Day. Her cargo was Furr & Lumber. She had some Englishmen on Board, the Ocasion of our detaining Her so Long.
7th: at 5 o’clock afternoon made the Land of Abaco.
8th: at 10 o’clock Harbour island. Bore east Dist 2 leagues.
9th: Hard Gales of wind.
10th: Fresh Gales of wind & Heavy Squals.
11th: Fresh breezes & a Rough Sea.
12th: at 6 afternoon Caught a Great Turtle which was kookt the next Day for the Entertainment of the Gentlemen of the Fleet. No less than 13 Came on Board to Dine.
Forget the law. Forget the turtles. What kin dof idiot lights something — let alone 150 of anything — on fire and then leaves it unattended?
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