Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/119978
Sarasota News Leader April 5, 2013 Page 19 very distressing to think anybody would be so "I don't know if they get mad that [the Audumean-spirited." bon volunteers are] closing off part of the Sgt. Scott Osborne, who leads the Sarasota beach," Osborne said. County Sheriff's Office Community Policing Station on Siesta Key, told the News Leader on However, Luckner emphasized that the bufApril 2 that he had stipulated special patrols fer area damaged last week was not beside a in the rebuilt buffer area since the incident public pathway. occurred last week. March 30 was the first day for those patrols, he said. Officers have been Moreover, a county ordinance forbids dogs on making a point of checking the area early in the Siesta beach, but Audubon volunteers also the morning, Osborne added. have cited numerous incidents over the past Additionally, he contacted the FWC officer re- several years of dog owners ignoring the law. sponsible for matters on Siesta, Osborne said, and FWC has directed its game wardens to Last summer, the Sheriff's Office stepped up patrols in the evenings during the height of keep an eye on the area. nesting season, with officers issuing citations "It could be anyone," Osborne added of the perpetrator, even a resident. "We've had some for violations. issues in the past" in the areas marked off for the plover nests, he pointed out. "There's no Dogs will scare nesting plovers away from the nests, even if the birds are trying to hatch telling." eggs, Audubon members have pointed out. A couple of years ago, Audubon volunteers reported extensive damage from people and Many times, the birds will not return to the nests after such an incident. % dogs in some of the nesting areas. A snowy plover on the beach. Photo by Fran Palmeri