City Commission Cheers Flagler Beach Turtle Patrol

They’re detectives of the sands: They start their work at dawn, riding ATVs on the beaches on mornings from May to September, looking for what they call “fresh crawls”–telltale signs of a turtle nest (unless it’s a”false crawl”). They then literally stake the nest’s ground. You’ve seen them on Flagler’s beaches: four stakes and reddish ribbon around them, demarcating the no-go zones for all but turtles.

It takes a lot of dedicated work but a lot of people, all of them volunteers organized under the non-profit umbrella of the Volusia-Flagler Turtle Patrol.

On Thursday evening, Flagler Beach mayor Alice Baker recognized the Flagler Beach Turtle Patrol before the city commission, awarding certificates of appreciation to a dozen volunteers, and to cheers from the commission and an audience of about 30. (Coincidentally, “Colors of the Sea,” a new art show featuring Rick Cannizzaro’s vivid paintings of sea turtles, was opening at virtually the same time this evening around the corner from the commission, chambers, at Ocean Publishing, across from the pier. The show is on display through the end of the month.)

“I know Flagler Beach does love their turtles,” volunteer Lori Ottlein said. Ottlein, familiarly known as the city’s Turtle Lady, won a national conservation award from the Orlando chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in March. “We really do have a lot of support from Flagler Beach.” (Watch a video profile of Ottlein.)

Those receiving certificates from Baker: