jjcollins
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 26, 1999
- Messages
- 1,394
TITUSVILLE -- Each year, people call from as far away as England and Germany to book reservations. Others plan their vacations around it.
Never mind that they will swat mosquitoes, hike a quarter-mile and likely wait for hours in the pitch-black dark. To them, it's worth it, just for the chance to watch a mother sea turtle drag her 350-pound body up the beach, dig a hole and lay her eggs.
"It's like being tossed into The Discovery Channel," said Laura Henning, a park ranger at the Canaveral National Seashore, where the turtle watches have been offered annually since the early 1980s. "They get the chance to see these huge animals right up close."
The federal park, which straddles Brevard and Volusia counties, will begin taking reservations Wednesday for the turtle watches offered in June.
Because the turtles are endangered, only 30 people, including the ranger, are permitted on each of the nighttime expeditions.
The coveted spots could become even scarcer in Brevard. Fifteen watches have been planned for Volusia's Apollo Beach in June. So far, only six watches are scheduled for Brevard's Playalinda Beach because of security concerns about an upcoming space-shuttle launch.
"Starting Wednesday, the phones will be ringing off the hook," said Christin Pool, another park ranger.
Last year, reservations for nighttime expeditions were filled within about four hours, and hundreds of callers had to be turned away, Pool said.
Those lucky enough to get a spot meet at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Office in Titusville or at the visitor's center auditorium at Apollo Beach.
Volunteers on all-terrain vehicles scour the sand in search of turtles while participants watch an educational video on the huge animals.
If a turtle is spotted making her way up the beach, the group caravans by car to the area and then quietly hikes the rest of the way to witness a ritual as old as time.
"It's very exciting," said Leni Schild, a 70-year-old volunteer in the information center at Apollo Beach, who has taken her granddaughter and several friends on three watches over the years.
"The children can go right up close, kneel in the sand and watch."
As for the turtles, once they start laying eggs, they seem oblivious to the crowd.
According to Henning, "It's kind of like childbirth. By then, you don't care who's in the room. You just want to get it over with."
The number to call for turtle-watch information is 386-428-3384, Ext. 18
jj.........
Never mind that they will swat mosquitoes, hike a quarter-mile and likely wait for hours in the pitch-black dark. To them, it's worth it, just for the chance to watch a mother sea turtle drag her 350-pound body up the beach, dig a hole and lay her eggs.
"It's like being tossed into The Discovery Channel," said Laura Henning, a park ranger at the Canaveral National Seashore, where the turtle watches have been offered annually since the early 1980s. "They get the chance to see these huge animals right up close."
The federal park, which straddles Brevard and Volusia counties, will begin taking reservations Wednesday for the turtle watches offered in June.
Because the turtles are endangered, only 30 people, including the ranger, are permitted on each of the nighttime expeditions.
The coveted spots could become even scarcer in Brevard. Fifteen watches have been planned for Volusia's Apollo Beach in June. So far, only six watches are scheduled for Brevard's Playalinda Beach because of security concerns about an upcoming space-shuttle launch.
"Starting Wednesday, the phones will be ringing off the hook," said Christin Pool, another park ranger.
Last year, reservations for nighttime expeditions were filled within about four hours, and hundreds of callers had to be turned away, Pool said.
Those lucky enough to get a spot meet at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Office in Titusville or at the visitor's center auditorium at Apollo Beach.
Volunteers on all-terrain vehicles scour the sand in search of turtles while participants watch an educational video on the huge animals.
If a turtle is spotted making her way up the beach, the group caravans by car to the area and then quietly hikes the rest of the way to witness a ritual as old as time.
"It's very exciting," said Leni Schild, a 70-year-old volunteer in the information center at Apollo Beach, who has taken her granddaughter and several friends on three watches over the years.
"The children can go right up close, kneel in the sand and watch."
As for the turtles, once they start laying eggs, they seem oblivious to the crowd.
According to Henning, "It's kind of like childbirth. By then, you don't care who's in the room. You just want to get it over with."
The number to call for turtle-watch information is 386-428-3384, Ext. 18
jj.........
