Cayman News: First turtle-sniffing dog deployed at GC beach

(CNS): The Department of Environment and its Turtle Beach Monitoring Program volunteers are welcoming a new member this turtle nesting season: Belle, Cayman’s first sea turtle detection dog. Stephanie Gunby, a member of the Department of Environment’s Coral Reef Management Team and part-time sea turtle team member, is spearheading a pilot study, training her golden retriever to track hatchlings that have become disoriented by artificial lighting.

This work is related to Cayman Turtle Centre: Island Wildlife Encounterswho provided scent samples, and Maggie Baldino, a DoE enforcement supervisor with experience in the training and handling of detection dogs. DoE officials said conservation dog collaborations have been successful in other jurisdictions, both in sea turtle research and other wildlife projects, but Bell may be a first for our region.

Such detection work is only carried out using specially trained dogs, and pet owners are asked not to allow their dogs to interfere with local wildlife.

Nesting season has arrived, and sea turtles are having their annual romantic date. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency urges people to keep their distance.

“We must remember that it is important to give these magnificent creatures the space they need,” a spokesperson for the department said. “Disturbing mating or nesting turtles can disrupt their natural behaviour and affect their reproductive success. By keeping our distance we can help ensure their populations remain healthy and thriving.”

Being too close could cause unnecessary stress to the turtles, leading to failed matings or causing them to abandon nesting sites, which would be detrimental to future populations.

Observers should maintain a safe distance of 100 feet (30 meters) from nesting or mating turtles and use binoculars or zoom lenses to get a close look, but do not intrude on their space. Anyone approached by a turtle or accidentally gets too close should back away calmly and slowly to avoid disturbing them.

Harassing sea turtles is not only harmful but also illegal, as all sea turtles are endangered and protected by law. The public is urged to report any acts or activities that harass sea turtles to the Sea Turtle Hotline at 938-NEST (938-6378).