A man who packed soft-shell turtles into a cooler at Lake Mira Mar will have to answer in court as a result of a wildlife violation.
Lady Lake Animal Control responded Monday afternoon to the body of water behind La Hacienda Recreation Center, where two men had been fishing. One of the men, 51-year-old Russell Manz, of Dunnellon, was found to be in possession of a cooler which contained a catfish and two soft-shell turtles, according to an incident report from the Lady Lake Police Department. There was also a bag of ice in the airtight cooler.
Soft-shell turtles cannot be taken from the wild between May 1 and July 31, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Manz was issued a notice to appear July 24 in Lake County Court.
He and a companion, who was not charged, were asked not to return to Lake Mira Mar.