WVEC (Norfolk, Virginia) 04 July 11 Turtles allegedly terrorized in Va. Beach neighborhood (David Ham)

Virginia Beach: The Virginia Beach SPCA and Animal Control had to get involved to warn kids living in an Oceanfront neighborhood to stop terrorizing turtles.

People living in the Seabridge Square neighborhood say that for months, children have been baiting turtles with wild berries and beating them with sticks.

Neighbors say there are three turtles. One is estimated to weigh about 60 pounds.

"They're not doing it for play. They're not doing it just to feed the turtles. They're being cruel to the turtles," said Cierra Reardon.

Reardon called the SPCA. Animal control was eventually called and an officer went door to door to talk to parents and their kids about leaving the turtles alone.

"It's just a real problem and a concern to us because a lot of these parents from what she said are even aware that these kids are interacting with this animal," said Amy McNally, Virginia Beach SPCA.

Beth Richardson says she's warned some of the children who go near the turtles that they also bite.

"It could snap your finger off."

She's hoping that with the visit from Animal Control the kids have learned their lesson not to mess with nature.

"This is an ongoing problem and people are gonna' have to know right from wrong. You can only teach people so much," said Richardson.

The Virginia Beach SPCA says that if anyone in the neighborhood sees the children harming the turtles they should file a complaint with Animal Control.
Turtles allegedly terrorized in Va. Beach neighborhood

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