Memorable Moments from 2024

by · December 29, 2024

It’s been a remarkable year for STPS. So many extraordinary moments to choose from and here are just a few.

Sea Turtle Nesting Season

The big nesting news this year was the rare and endangered Kemp’s ridleys nesting on our shores. In September, a FOX 35 News Orlando report featured video from STPS volunteers Terri Watkins and Carrie Hinojosa and an interview of STPS Communications Director Joel Cohen. As Joel points out, Kemp’s ridleys nest in groups which makes them vulnerable to poaching. Seeing them nest in Florida is great news.

Kemp’s ridleys mostly nest in Mexico. So why are they nesting in Florida more? According to the report, during the BP oil spill in 2010, Kemp’s ridleys were rehabbed in Florida then released. Also, cold-stunned Kemp’s ridleys were also released from our coasts. Researchers speculate that these sea turtles may be staying nearby to nest. Terri and Carrie’s video footage was taken during STPS sea turtle nesting survey work under Florida state Marine Turtle Permit (MTP) 067.

Photo by Carrie Hinojosa of a nesting Kemp’s ridley (May 13, 2024). Watch her fun video on Facebook: “The Ridley Dance”.

We also learned from Dean Bagley of UCF Marine Turtle Research Group (MTRG) that 2024 was a record-breaking year for leatherback nesting in Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge (ACNWR). As of November 2024, MTRG counted 80 leatherback nests this year compared to just 34 last year. Learn more in the STPS 2024 Holiday Edition Turtle Talk Newsletter (see page 11).

Scooby Goes Home

Dave Rescues Scooby – In March 2024, STPS Stranding volunteer Dave Thornton got a call about a young loggerhead stranded on Indian Harbor Beach. The sea turtle was lethargic and covered with barnacles (see left photo below). Dave drove the juvenile to Brevard Zoo’s Sea Turtle Healing Center, but because they did not have room for the rescue, the young loggerhead was subsequently transferred to The Turtle Hospital in Marathon in the Florida Keys.

Left: Juvenile loggerhead named Scooby on March 13, 2024 when she was rescued by Dave Thornton. Middle: Dave with Scooby on May 15, 2024 after she was rehabilitated at The Turtle Hospital and ready for release. Right: Scooby heads home to the ocean on May 15, 2024 (photo by Cindy Lang).

Scooby Undergoes Treatment – At the hospital, the staff did blood work on the young female loggerhead and discovered that she was anemic. Her treatment included antibiotics, a diet of mixed seafood, and the gradual removal of all the barnacles attached to her shell and skin. During her rehab at the hospital, Scooby became an Internet sensation on social media. Watch one of her Facebook videos here: Scooby Update!

Scooby’s Release – Once Scooby recovered and was swimming well, she was fitted with a satellite transmitter then returned to Brevard County for release on May 15, 2024. She made the trip with two rehabbed juvenile green sea turtles named Mojave and Oatmeal. Mojave was rescued by STPS Stranding & Salvage Permit Holder Cyndi Stinson and Oatmeal was rescued by STPS Stranding volunteer Danette Kane. All three sea turtles were released from Paradise Beach. Dave got to see the now barnacle-free Scooby and pose for a picture (see middle photo above) before she was released back into the ocean (shown right). The Turtle Hospital’s release of these three sea turtles got lots of views online. You can watch videos of the release using these links: Swim Free Scooby! and Mojave and Oatmeal’s Release. You can also see Scooby’s satellite track on the Sea Turtle Conservancy website: Scooby’s Satellite Track.

More Sea Turtle Rescues:

Helping Sea Turtles in So Many Different Ways on Just One Day

Written by STPS Co-Chair Roger Pszonowsky

Saturday May 18, 2024 was a busy day for STPS volunteers. Some attended Sea Turtle Emergency Response Program (STERP) training and others did nest surveys. At the “Thunder on Cocoa Beach” boat race, one of our long-time volunteers rode in a helicopter over the race course watching for sea turtles, while other volunteers set up the STPS booth at the Port Canaveral to talk to boaters (see page 6 of the STPS Summer 2024 Turtle Talk Newsletter).

Meanwhile, yet another rescue drama was playing out in the Banana River Lagoon. After Orlando residents Holly and Gerry Garrett and their friends rented a boat from Freedom Boat Club at Marker 24 Marina, they came upon a struggling green sea turtle. Holly and Gerry contacted Florida FWC Division of Law Enforcement for help. Pulling the injured green from the water took some time as it seemed to be attached to a rope and trash, possibly a large black plastic bag wrapped around one of its front flippers restricting the blood flow (see photos below). Florida FWC Stranding contacted the STPS Emergency Hotline and called our Stranding team at 12:50 PM. The boaters brought the injured green to the marina where STPS Stranding volunteers picked it up and evaluated it before transporting.

Many thanks to Holly, Gerry and their group for taking time to care. Thanks also to FWC, the marina staff, and the STPS volunteers who got the green named “Freedom” safely to the local rehabilitation facility for urgent care. Well done everyone!

Left: Entangled green sea turtle being pulled out of the Banana River (photo by Holly Garrett). Middle: STPS Co-Chair Roger Pszonowsky (right) helps carry the injured green off the boat (photo by Rhonda Pszonowsky). Right: Close up of the injured green (photo by Holly Garrett). (May 18, 2024)

UCF Marine Turtle Research Group (MTRG) Sea Turtle Satellite Tagging Project

In June 2024, UCF MTRG and Inwater Research Group satellite tagged and released a 255-pound male green sea turtle. The green was named in honor of BJ Varuska who was a long-time, irreplaceable member of STPS. The satellite tag was provided by STPS and donations from BJ’s wife Margie, their family and friends. The turtle was provided by Inwater Research Group including Jeff Guertin and Janie Reavis at their St. Lucie research site.

Top Left: Jeff Guertin and Janie Reavis, Inwater Research Group. Top Right: Dean Bagley and Janet Hochella, UCF MTRG. Bottom Photos: BJ makes his way back to the ocean. Photos courtesy of UCF MTRG. Photos were taken while MTRG conducted their FWC-permitted research activities.

Although BJ’s tag came off earlier than expected, it tracked BJ to a new foraging ground near Sand Key Lighthouse (6 nautical miles SW of Key West) which MTRG researchers had never recorded before. See BJ’s entire track in the STPS Loggerhead Lowdown blog Tracking BJ.

Turtle Krawl 5K – September 14, 2024

Our biggest fundraising event of the year was a great success thanks to all the hard-working volunteers who made it happen. We’re also grateful to everyone who participated in the race and for all our sponsors and donors. Below are photos of just some of our amazing volunteers getting ready for the race and on race day.

Volunteers Getting Ready for the 2024 Turtle Krawl 5K.
Top Left: Volunteer Coordinator Louise Schuster, Michelle Sharman, Jennifer Powell, Judi Craig, and Julie Fowler. Top Right: Kathy Egan, Lorraine Jones, Louise Schuster, and Kris Marvin. Bottom Left: Wayne Ivester, Tracy Waters, and Melanie Hagen. Bottom Middle: Louise Schuster and Robert Marsh. Bottom Right: Kathleen Covich and Lisa Cearley.
Volunteers on Race Day, September 14, 2024. Photos by Terri Watkins of Fluttering Shutters Photography.

To see photos and a video of the race, please use these links:

To learn more about our annual race, please visit the STPS Turtle Krawl 5K website.

Our Volunteers Are Key to Our Success

Without our dedicated volunteers, we would not be able to accomplish our mission to Help Sea Turtles Survive. From our Board Members to our Emergency Hotline monitors to our Turtle Krawl 5K race-day helpers, all are volunteers. Here are some more photos of some of our amazing volunteers from different events during the year.

Top Row: Nesting Survey Volunteers (May 2024). Middle Row Left: Volunteer Dina Nichols, Director of Fundraising Sharon Gibson, and Volunteer Melanie Hagen at Culver’s Share Night Fundraiser (July 18, 2024). Middle Row Right: Beach Cleanup Coordinator Gerry Burke, Joshua Hindman (Education Coordinator, Keep Brevard Beautiful), and Volunteer Sue Kiebler at the International Coastal Cleanup (September 21, 2024) (photo courtesy of Keep Brevard Beautiful). Bottom Row Left: Volunteer Marcia Slaton, Volunteer Coordinator Louise Schuster, and Co-Director of Events Robin Courtney at Kennedy Space Center’s Earth Day Celebration (April 8, 2024). Bottom Row Right: Volunteer Sherry Martin, Membership Director Cynthia Gagliardi, and Volunteers Charlotte and Dennis Lawyer at Turkey Creek Day (April 27, 2024).

Thanks Everybody for a GREAT Year!

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