Letter to the Editor: German visitors marvel at sea turtle hatch

Cody, Chase, and Hailey Nieder, their nanny Marina Gibert, and CWC volunteer Mike Tapp watch a hatchling sea turtle crawl to the gulf south of the Range Light on August 23. Below, a hatchling loggerhead makes it way to the Gulf. Photo provided by Coastal Wildlife Club

Coastal Wildlife Club volunteers share sea turtle experiences with others as often as we can, and these encounters are always among our favorite memories.

CWC turtle patrollers Barb and Mike Tapp monitor the beach on Gasparilla Island from 1st Street to Sea Grape Park. In August, they met the Nieder family visiting from Tuttlingen, which is close to the Black Forest in Germany. Gloria Nieder wrote recently:

“It was so wonderful to meet Barb and Mike early in the morning on the beach. Our family came to Boca in the 80s for the first time. We live in Europe and have travelled to many places all around the world, but we haven’t found anything comparable to Boca Grande. It is so peaceful and the wildlife is very exciting for the children.  Every day they discover something new. Barb and Mike were so informative and very patient with all of the questions I had. They took their time and explained everything in detail. The morning when a live sea turtle was found in the nest, I ran as fast as I could back to the house to get the children. They then released the sea turtle together. What an unforgettable experience!”

Members of the Coastal Wildlife Club
Englewood