Public’s help needed to monitor Florida turtle deaths

FLORIDA — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is seeking the public’s help in reporting sightings of sick, strangely acting, or dead turtles.

The FWC is studying a fatal virus infecting freshwater turtles statewide.

Please report sightings to the FWC through the Turtle Hotline 352-339-8597 or through the FWC reporter app on your mobile device.

The FWC has been studying turtle fraservirus 1 (TFV1), formerly known as turtle bunyavirus, since early 2018.

Since then, the virus has been detected in Putnam, Lake, Seminole, Orange, Polk, Osceola, Brevard, Indian River and Collier counties.

TFV1 has been detected in softshells, cooters, and sliders, and the first TFV1 positive common snapping turtle was discovered earlier this year in southern Indian River County.

A turtle may be sick if it displays any of the following signs:

• Appears sluggish, unresponsive or reluctant to flee.
• Stays in shallow water or beached on banks for prolonged periods of times.
• Head and neck outstretched flat along ground.
• Sunken, swollen, crusty and/or cloudy eyes.
• Reddened skin on head, neck, limbs or bottom of shell.
• Swims irregularly (sideways, in circles unable to submerge).

As part of the ongoing research, the FWC is asking the public for help by taking the following actions:

• Report sightings of sick, strangely acting or dead freshwater turtles to the FWC by calling the Turtle Hotline 352-339-8597 or through the FWC Reporter App.
• If possible and without touching the turtle, take photos of the turtle.
• To avoid spreading the virus, do not capture, transport or release turtles in new locations, even if the turtle appears healthy.
  • Executive order #21-19 prohibits the take or transport of all freshwater softshell turtle species or yellow-bellied sliders until the order is repealed.
• Do not eat turtles that are acting strangely or that appear unhealthy.

There is no current evidence to suggest that humans or wildlife other than turtles can be infected with TFV1.

For more information about TFV1, visit MyFWC.com/wildlifehabitats, click on “Wildlife,” then “Freshwater Turtles” and “Turtle Fraservirus 1.”