Turtle Release TOMORROW!
Join us for a sea turtle release at 5 pm at Round Island Beach Park in Vero Beach. Lucie is a Loggerhead that was found on the beach by park rangers in Ft Pierce Inlet State Park. She was transported to the Sea Turtle Healing Center at @brevardzoo by biologists from Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute on June 30th. Lucie was in the early stages of debilitation: lethargic, a little underweight, and covered in barnacles (we removed 5 lbs of barnacles from her!) She weighed 79.4 kg (175 lbs) at intake and weighs 86.9 kg (191 lbs) now! Her carapace is 90 cm (35 in) long, so Lucie is considered an adult (hard to estimate age, but maybe 20 yrs) Lucie is tagged with flipper tags and a PIT tag (microchip). If you find a stranded turtle, or hatchlings in need, please call the Sea Turtle Preservation Society (STPS) hotline at 321-206-0646. If they are able, STPS will send a volunteer to your location to pick up the hatchling. If a volunteer is not available, STPS may request that you take the hatchling to one of the approved hatchling drop-off locations below:
1. Sea Turtle Preservation Society office, 111 S Miramar (A1A), Indialantic FL 32903
2. Lori Wilson Park, 1500 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach FL 32953
3. Barrier Island Center, 8385 S Hwy A1A, Melbourne Beach FL 32951
It is very important that the hatchling is not put in water. These little turtles are often weak and/or injured, and they may not be strong enough to lift their head to breathe in water. The best way to transport a hatchling is in a container with damp sand or a damp cloth on the bottom. Cover the container, so the turtle stays shaded and calm.
Photo provided by the STHC’s Meet the Patients page. The STHC is closed to the public and does not offer tours. Check out their current patients here.
