Turtles making tracks
Big nesting hopes along Cassowary Coast
MISSION Beach wildlife workers believe the number of turtles choosing to nest on the Cassowary Coast has grown significantly this year.
Mission Beach Wild Care owner Steve McGuinness posted photos on Facebook earlier this week showing turtle tracks from the ocean to the South Mission, Wongaling and Narragon foreshores.
The tracks have also been found at Bingil Bay and could have been made by green or loggerhead turtles over recent days.
“We’ve been here for 11 years, we’ve never seen the tracks or had reports the last few years of turtles nesting in such numbers around here,” Mr McGuinness said.
“Maybe people just haven’t seen them, or we’ve had different weather, or these ones were born here originally and now they’ve matured and they’ve returned to nest.
“If it’s happening in Mission Beach, it could be happening all up and down the coast, up to Cairns. There are definitely some in Cardwell.”
But Mr McGuinness wanted to highlight the importance of keeping an eye on pet dogs while walking on the beaches.
“It’s a big dog walking place, Mission Beach, and we’d just like people, if they see their dog scratching, to check it hasn’t got into a nest,” he said.
“Everyone’s glad to have them. The monitors and goannas are a natural predator.
“It shows turtles are happy here. Everyone says the Reef is in danger, but if the wildlife think it’s OK to breed here, that’s a positive.”
Mr McGuinness also warned against using squid as bait when fishing off Perry Harvey jetty at Mission Beach.
Turtles have been severely injured after swallowing the favourite food on the end of fishing hooks.
Coquette Point Mandubarra Turtle Rehabilitation centre head and traditional elder Henry Epong said he was expecting many more turtles to continue nesting at Kurrimine Beach this year.
Turtle hatchlings usually make their way out of their nests and toward the open ocean throughout January and February.