Lobster trap entanglements are a common occurrence here in the Florida Keys. Sport is a sub-adult loggerhead who is yet another turtle to become entangled. On January 23 the commercial fisherman themselves brought Sport back to land where they met up with Florida Wildlife Commission for transport. Sue Schaf from FWC brought in this 113 lb turtle for triage. We were hoping to possibly save the leg but the circulation had been cut off for so long that there was nothing we could do to save it. Sport had to undergo surgery for an amputation of the right rear leg. Sutures now hold the incision site together. Sport is on antibiotics to prevent infection and will remain here until he has healed up enough for release. Even though Sport now only has three legs it will not be a problem for him to go back to the wild.

Comments disabled.

On January 10^th our hospital received its first patient for the year. A phone call came through early afternoon about a report of a large, possibly 250 lb, floating sea turtle. Stacey Money was out kayaking in the Largo Sound when she saw the turtle floating and reported it to FWC who then made the rescue. Rehabilitation staff from The Turtle Hospital met up with FWC to retrieve the turtle in Key Largo. On board FWC’s  boat was a very tired sub-adult loggerhead. Our new patient received the name Rocky D after one of the FWC officer’s name. The crew from FWC who made the rescue was Racquel Daniels (Rocky D), Erik Steinmetz, and Rene Taboas. Once Rocky D was back at the hospital we were able to administer fluids, antibiotics and take  x-ray’s. We also got an accurate weight and Rocky D ended up weighing 156 lbs. The x-ray’s revealed an impaction of the intestines. The intestines appear to be filled up with shell from small snails. Loggerheads will sometimes eat the wrong things when they can’t find the proper food to eat and end up going after the wrong food items. A normal loggerhead diet should be crab, lobster, clam, and conch. After being impacted the turtles will start to float at the top surface to to gas in the intestines and they become very vulnerable. Sometimes the turtles float for a very long time before they are rescued but luckily for Rocky D he was found early! To treat Rocky D we have started feeding lactulose, fiber, and beano. We are also performing glycerin enemas which will help to move the impaction along quicker. Fluids help to rehydrate him and antibiotics help prevent infection. Rocky D is quickly becoming a favorite here as he is very cooperative during care and very excited during meal time!

Comments disabled.

Dawn was finally able to be released after being here at the hospital for over a year.  He was originally brought in as a juvenile green sea turtle with fibropapillomatosis.  He had tumor like growths that were removed using a CO2 laser.  After he recovered from surgery, we still cared for Dawn for the following year. We kept Dawn here in order to check him monthly to be sure that the tumors would not come back.  Dawn never had any regrowths, so he was approved for release.  We took him back to the same location he was originally picked up off shore Key West.  Dawn was released twenty pounds heavier and very healthy. Good luck Dawn!

Comments disabled.

Our newest patient here at the hospital is Taia.  Taia is a subadult loggerhead who was rescued near the seven mile bridge here in Marathon.  FWC officer Josh Peters found Taia floating and alerted the Turtle Hospital to the situation.  Taia could not dive deeper than three feet even though she tried to swim with all her might.  Working together, FWC Officer Peters and Turtle Hospital team member Jeanette were able to net Taia out of the ocean and lift her safely into the boat.  Taia was then raced to shore and brought to the Turtle Hospital in the ambulance.  

FWC Officer Peters and Taia. Taia was named after Peter's niece.

 Taia is now currently here at the hospital and being treated for a bacterial infection in her intestine.  She is on special medicine that will help cure the infection and stop floating.  She has a great appetite, and it shouldn’t be long before she makes a full recovery. Stay tuned for news on Taia the loggerhead.

Comments disabled.

Sully was found about two miles offshore in Islamorada, Florida. She was found by Suelle Rodriguez and Bart Harts who were out on Captain Jeremy Pfaffendorf’s charter boat “A Little Tail”. Jeremy had Suelle and Bart fishing for mackrel, snapper, and grouper in the Florida Bay when they saw a loggerhead sea turtle struggling to dive down and swim away. They knew something was wrong and called the Turtle Hospital to file a report. Team member Gunnar jumped in the ambulance and headed to Whale Harbor Marina. He picked up “Sully” (which is Suelle’s nickname) the 119 pound loggerhead and headed back to the hospital. Once there, Sully was evaluated; it was determined that Sully was suffering from an impaction or turtle constipation. When a turtle has an impaction, an infection is growing in their intestinal tract. That infection releases CO2 gas which compromises the turtles bouyancy and causes the turtle to float. He is currently on antibiotics, and our miracle drugs: lactulose, metamucil, and beano to help alleviate his impaction. He is currently recovering in one of our rehabilitation tanks and is expected to make a full recovery. Very special thanks to Jeremy, Suelle and Bart for saving Sully’s life. Who knows how long he could have floated around out there.

Comments disabled.

Emily and Ben Graue were on vacation with there parents in the keys recently and got the thrill of a lifetime! They were snorkling on the Jolly Roger dive boat when they noticed a loggerhed sea turtle thrashing and struggling on the surface of the ocean. They informed the crew of the boat Captain Doug Morgan and Captain Bonnie Clydesdale of Captain Hooks Marina and Dive Charters, and they immediately took action. Captain Bonnie jumped into the water and using a lifejacket was able to get the turtle back to the boat. Once on board, they realized the turtle had a puffer fish in his mouth. When puffer fish feel threatened they inflate their bodies to make themselves larger. This little loggerhead tried to eat this little fish and then it inflated to three times the orginal size and lodged itself in the turtles throat!

The crew of the boat was able to get the puffer fish out without causing serious harm to the turtle. Turtle Hospital team member Gunnar met the Jolly Roger and her crew at Tarpon Creek Marina to pick up “Puffer,” the loggerhead sea turtle, and transport him to the Turtle Hospital. Once back at the hospital Puffer was evaluated, and other than a few puncture wounds to the roof of his mouth and a swollen toungue, was perfectly healthy. We see all sorts of different problems associated with the sea turtles, but this is the first time in our 25 year history that we’ve seen a puffer fish lodged in a turtles throat. Puffer is cruising back and forth in one of our rehabilitation tanks anxiously awaiting release. We are just holding him for a few extra days to make sure he doesn’t develop an infection. Very special thanks to Ben and Emily Graue, as well as the crew of the Jolly Roger dive boat for saving Puffer’s life. He very easily could have died without their help. That puffer fish was over the turtle’s airway making breathing very difficult, and it would have been only a matter of time before Puffer drowned.

Comments disabled.

Thank you to all of you who donated during the month of December including:

 Joseph & Mary Monahan, Erik Zimmermann, Stephen Johnson, John & Angie McDonough, Michael Lawrence, Kevin Schmitt, Nancy Turner, Frank Kohout, Rachelle Zold, Mary Ann Pohl, Beverly Kuna, Sally Lunn, Ed & Betsy Osman, Jill Baltes, Petra Bennington, Milan Nikolich, Linda Abbott, James Cambron, John & Lisa Domenech, Gwen Goldman, Eugene Staebell, Mary Ann Phol, Nancy Tatum, Lucy Richards, Lisa Nass, Elizabeth Rafferty, Shery Cotton, Jeffrey Riedi, Kelly Jackson, Michelle Boyer, Carl Trella, Bill & Zoe Hopkins, Michelle Hartz, Kathleen Hanson, Susie Curry, Bob & Sandy Momeyer, Bob Allen, Nancy Bousoleil, Barbara Huwar, John Kocinski, Ray Gabrish, Audrey Lama, Jennifer & Martin Mohr, Brian Weinstein, Birginia  Weinstein, Nikkolette Garno, Michael Thompson, Wallace Williams, Dan Ballard, Karyn Scanlon,  Gurdon Wattles, Karen Albano, HP Company Foundation, Maru Pineiro, Nabil Guketlov, Aargh Maintenance and Service, Loomacres Wildlife Management, The Howard Dayne Fund and Richard Worthington

 It is your generosity which helps make it possible to provide the turtles with the care that they need.

Comments disabled.

Seasons Greetings from The Turtle Hospital! If you’re looking for the perfect holiday gift, visit The Turtle Hospital Gift Shop or Online Store and give the gift that gives twice! Find great items such as unique jewelry, Turtle Hospital t-shirts & hoodies, books and so much more! All items have been given a seal of approval by our sea turtle-loving staff. You can also adopt a sea turtle, donate or become a member and join our Turtle Hospital family this season!

We have our best sellers online, but if you are in the Florida Keys, visit our Gift Shop at MM 48.5, open from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm every day, including Christmas. We have stocked up and updated our shop. There are new “Turtle Hospital” items such as coffee mugs and mouse pads, as well as our old favorites like tote bags, t-shirts and a selection of fine sterling silver jewelry.

What’s best is that 100% of the proceeds of each gift will directly benefit our sea turtles. The Turtle Hospital is a nonprofit organization funded by the generosity and compassion of people like you. Truly, none of this could be done without your continued support.

Click here to start shopping:    http://turtlehospitalstore.com

Adopt A Sea Turtle: http://turtlehospitalstore.com/adoptions.html

Donate:  http://turtlehospitalstore.com/donations.html

Become A Member: http://turtlehospitalstore.com/memberships.html

Happy Holidays,

Turtle Hospital Staff

Comments disabled.