A stray dog killed 23 newly hatched sea turtles on a North Florida beach just hours after they emerged from their nests, sparking renewed calls for pet owners to leash their animals in coastal areas.

Volunteers from the Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol discovered the carcasses during a routine survey in Atlantic Beach, officials announced in an August 21 Facebook post (New York Post). The incident occurred near Second Street as the hatchlings attempted their first crawl toward the ocean.

Investigators determined that the culprit was most likely an unleashed dog. The attack has been described as a devastating setback for conservation efforts. “Every nest counts because scientists estimate that only one in 1,000 hatchlings reach adulthood,” city officials stressed in their statement.

Authorities did not confirm which species was killed. However, the waters off Florida are home to loggerhead, green, leatherback, Kemp’s ridley, and hawksbill turtles — all of which are federally protected under the Endangered Species Act and safeguarded under Florida law.

The attack site is located about 15 miles east of Jacksonville. Conservationists underscored that the loss of even a few hatchlings has long-term consequences for already endangered populations.

In response, Atlantic Beach officials urged beachgoers to immediately report and photograph any unleashed dogs. The stray involved in the massacre remains unidentified and at large.

Wildlife advocates have long warned that unleashed pets, artificial lighting, and human disturbances contribute to declining sea turtle survival rates. The tragic incident has renewed calls for stronger enforcement of leash laws in Florida’s coastal communities.