Tracking Turtles… Meet Redfoot and Spencer–tagged male greens!
Written with information from Dean Bagley. All research, data, images, and graphics used with permission from Dean Bagley. Follow UCF Marine Turtle Research Group or learn more
Redfoot and Spencer are two male greens that were attached with transmitters by the UCF group a few hours before they were released.
To follow these turtles, check them out on seaturtle.org! Right now, there’s a glitch in the system with maps and photos updating (the turtle photos are incorrect), but we will continue updating through the Loggerhead Lowdown, so click Subscribe above!
The first turtle was named “Redfoot” for Bill Redfoot, who was an integral part of the UCF Marine Turtle Research Group since 1982. In addition to everything he did for the project, he was also the driving force behind publications about our work with marine turtles of the Indian River Lagoon, the Trident Submarine Basin, and long term trends in loggerhead nesting. Bill retired this year to spend more time with his wife, Ann. The turtle, “Redfoot” was found upside down in the swash zone on the Carr Refuge beach in June and released just about sunrise.
Dean Bagley, STPS Board members Dori Hughes and Craig Konkel, member Karen Holloway-Adkins, and STPS Board member Nikia Rice were there for the transmitter attachment and release.
Meet Spencer
The second turtle was named “Spencer” for Spencer Moberg, a middle school student in Deerfield Beach. Spencer created a program called “Passion Project 8th Grade” and raised $3,000 for STPS. They in turn, wanted to name a turtle for him. “Spencer” was found washed up on the Carr Refuge beach as part of a mating pair in June and released just before 4:00 a.m. He had an old healed injury to the left rear of his carapace.