By Vicky Wedig
Editor
As of Monday, the state Department of Investigation had no solid leads in its search for the person or people who bludgeoned a snapping turtle last week at Delbrook Golf Course.
“None of the tips we’ve gotten through the hotline have panned out,” Juan Gomez, DNR warden for Walworth County, said Monday.
Two animal rights groups are offering $6,000 in rewards for information about the beating of the turtle found June 10 in a sand bunker at Delbrook.
The international Global Conservation Group, with Wisconsin offices in Watertown, is offering $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrator responsible for beating the turtle, and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is offering $5,000.
Gomez said the reward could be a factor in some of “really far-out ideas” that have come through the DNR’s hotline.
The female turtle, which appeared to have been beaten with a golf club, died June 11 at Pine View Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center in Fredonia.
The turtle was found injured in a sand bunker at the golf course the morning of June 10. She was taken to Fellow Mortals Wildlife Hospital in the Town of Geneva and then taken to the Ozaukee County facility where she died the next day.
On June 11, the center posted this message on its website:
“Our turtle has died. Hopefully, a life not lost in vain. We will continue to be proactive as stewards on behalf of this victim, as well as the other voiceless creatures we share this earth with. We thank you all for your concern and support. Although this is devastating, it is a catalyst to continue.” Gomez said the investigation will continue. The golf course has turned over the names of all the golfers who checked in between 7:30 and 9:30 a.m. when the turtle was believed to have been beaten to the Walworth County Sheriff’s Department.
Gomez said about 35 people golfed during that time, and he has talked to most of them, but no leads have turned up. He said no one saw or heard the attack.
“I think it’s going to take someone with a conscious mind to step forward,” he said.
Anyone with any information related to the case is asked to call the DNR hotline at 1-800-847-9367. The hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Callers can remain anonymous.
Gomez received the call about the turtle at 9:30 a.m. June 10. The turtle, a female looking for a place to lay her eggs, was found lying in the sand bunker off Hole 4 North, according to Joanne M. Haas, of the DNR’s Bureau of Law Enforcement. She said wildlife rehabilitators indicate the turtle had holes in its shell and also was struck in the right eye. It appeared to have been beaten with a golf club. The golf course superintendent saw the turtle about 7:30 a.m. when it was in the bunker preparing to lay her eggs, and was not in the condition reported about two hours later. The warden and the superintendent searched the bunker after 9:30 a.m. but no eggs were found.
Wildlife rehabilitators said the turtle had about a 40 percent chance of survival. The turtle was eggless, and rehabilitators said the turtle may have laid her eggs.
Delbrook Golf Course Professional Dan Piecha reported the incident to the Delavan Common Council on June 11.
Piecha the golf course is cooperating with the DNR and the Sheriff’s Department.
“We are doing everything we can,” he said. “This was unacceptable.”
“This is ridiculous and sick,” Alderman Jeff Johnson said. “I hope this person is caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Correspondent Michael S. Hoey contributed to this report.
I really wich the coward that did this would come forward instead of hiding. You are fuly aware of what you did and that there is a reward offered for turning in the coward who did this. You are not a descent human being at all and I hope you dont ever have children because who knows what you’d do to them considering you beat innocent(pregnant) animals to death thinking you are some big shot. You are a disgrace to the human race.