Loggerhead Sea Turtle’s Release Goes Off Without a Hitch

SARASOTA, FL — A sub-adult loggerhead sea turtle with a chill personality is back at home in waters off Lido Beach following a Friday, Sept. 16 release by Mote Marine Laboratory. Tucker B had been a patient at the marine’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital since May but was recently given the green light to go back to the wild.

“Today was a great release,” Lynne Byrd, Mote’s rehabilitation and medical care coordinator, said in a statement. “Tucker was a very laidback, low maintenance patient and he maintained that same attitude from the day he arrived to the day he was released.”

Tucker B was found stranded in Boca Grande back on May 22. With some help from the Boca Grande Fire Department and its special “sea turtle sling,” donated by island resident Grace Harvey, he was brought to Mote for care.

When Tucker B arrived at the hospital, he was lethargic and suffered from old wounds to his head and shell. He was also covered in barnacles and algae, the marine center reported. To complicate matters, the critter also suffered from slight exposure to Florida red tide.

Since Tucker had no desire to eat when he first arrived at Mote, he was given subcutaneous fluids, antibiotics and supplements for about a week. After that, he started eating on his own and began to improve in health. Four months later, medical staff was able to clear him for release.

“It is such an incredible moment when we get to release these animals back to their home, but I am especially happy to see Tucker back in the wild today,” Byrd said. “When Tucker was found, there were very few signs of life, but the people and Fire Department in Boca Grande didn’t give up, transferred him to Mote and we were able to release him almost four months later.”

Tucker was named by the kids at Bradenton Christian School. They raised $876 to donate to the sea turtle hospital in April, and Mote staff offered the kids a chance to name the newest sea turtle arrival as a result.

“As a nonprofit, we rely on the support of the community, our interns and our staff, and I wanted to thank everyone who helped get Tucker back to his home,” Byrd said.

Sea turtle nesting season in the Tampa Bay area kicks off each year in May and runs through October. Sea turtles are protected under federal law. It is illegal to harass or interfere with them in any way or to disturb a nest.

Folks who want to help protect sea turtles are asked to report distressed or dead turtles to Mote’s Stranding Investigations Program in the Sarasota and Manatee county areas at 941-988-0212. For distressed, stranded or dead sea turtles, manatee, whales or dolphins outside of Sarasota and Manatee counties, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 1-888-404-3922.

To learn more about Mote and its efforts on behalf of Florida's aquatic creatures, visit it online.

Photo courtesy of Mote Marine Laboratory