Kentucky tourists stashed six baby sea turtles in hotel trash can

Shannon Hall | Courier Journal

CORRECTION: This story has been corrected to note that the turtles are a threatened species.

TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. — A Kentucky couple told police that they were sticking out their necks to keep threatened sea turtle hatchlings safe when they brought six back to their hotel room, according to media reports.

They also told police they were drunk when they made the rescue.

Tybee police were first notified Tuesday after a hotel housekeeper found the six live loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings in a water-filled trash can.

Loggerheads are classified as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, and the couple may have to shell out some serious cash because even touching one can result in a fine of up to $10,500. The photo gallery above from Florida Today illustrates nesting season.

The man told police that others on the beach attempted to grab the hatchlings as they crawled toward the ocean, so the duo "placed them in a cup and took them to the room for safety," according to the Island Packet.

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The Georgia Department of Natural Resources opened up an investigation, according to the Island Packet.

Turtle rescue experts released five of the loggerhead hatchlings from the beach at Tybee Island.

"Luckily, it's a rarity. This is the first time for us on Tybee Island, and so we hope that what we do at the Tybee Island Marine Science Center and that huge educational push, we hope that deters any of this kind of activity," Chantal Audran, Tybee Island Marine Science Center told WTOC. "We also have each of our own individual nests. We have a number to call if there is any kind of activity that needs to be reported."

One of the animals remains at the Tybee Island Marine Science Center, which can raise the turtle until age 2.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Shannon Hall: 502-582-4087; sshall@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @sshall4 Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: www.courier-journal.com/shannonh