Florida Felons Report: Holding an Endangered Green Turtle

© 2009 Albert A Rasch
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There are just some things you shouldn't do.

Messing around with an endangered species in Florida is among them.

Image Credit: Peter Liu

Green Sea Turtle being cleaned by tangs.

While on routine patrol, officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) stopped a group of fishermen on the J.F.K. Causeway in North Bay Village in Miami-Dade County, and asked to see their buckets. Observing a cooler in one of their trucks they asked to see it.

"The owner of the truck identified himself as Ramon Puente (DOB 8/1/65) of Miami. Officers asked Puente if he had fish or other marine life in the cooler, and he said no. As officers were opening the cooler, Puente advised them he had caught a sea turtle and was going to take it to a rehabilitation facility. Officers opened the cooler and found a live, endangered green sea turtle inside. Puente was charged with unlawful possession of a marine turtle, a third-degree felony. He was booked into the TGK Correctional Center."

Our Conservation Officers are doing their very best to keep all of our wildlife safe and sustainable!

Regards,
Albert A Rasch
The Hunt Continues...