MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — A woman was arrested Saturday after she was seen jabbing a sea turtle nest with a wooden stake and then stomping on the eggs, police said.
Yaqun Lu, 41, pulled up a wooden stake used to cordon off the nest and jabbed it into the sand at 8:15 a.m., WPLG reported.
Lu was arrested and charged with marine turtle or egg molestation/harassment, according to jail records.
Police said Lu then "stomped all over the nest." Investigators determined none of the eggs were damaged.
Sea turtles are protected under the Endangered Species Act. Nesting season is May 1 to Oct. 30. Loggerhead, green and leatherback sea turtles all nest on Miami beaches. Officials did not indicate which type of sea turtle laid the nest.