Photo: CBS 12
An animal rights nonprofit is threatening to sue the Town of Palm Beach for not doing enough to protect sea turtles. The group claims the town and a famous resort are violating the Endangered Species Act.
"The last thing we want to do is sue, but the first thing we want to do is protect our wildlife."
Katrina Shadix is the executive director of Central Florida-based Bear Warriors United.
She tells CBS 12 News that her group has issued a notice of intent to sue the town, citing several things.
"I was shocked to see that their nests are marked by one single stake and there's no indication of what that stake is for."
She also says the lights from the nearby Breakers Resort were shining bright on the beach, which can disorient mother sea turtles and their hatchlings.
"When I looked on the beach, I saw what looked like the NASA launch pad."
Shadix also pointed out that she saw "big tractors that were raking the sargassum. They had ran over hatchlings." She says the equipment also created "such large ruts that the hatchlings got stuck and could not get out."
Bear Warriors United, in its notice, is giving the town until September to fix the issues or face a lawsuit.
The resort says they've adjusted their lighting practices. The town won't comment on pending litigation.