Latest news with #seaturtle
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Another distressed loggerhead sea turtle seen in Indian River Bay, boaters urged to report
The Marine Education, Research and Rehabilitation Institute, a Lewes nonprofit, is asking boaters to help them locate an injured loggerhead sea turtle in the Indian River Bay. The endangered turtle was seen in distress, having difficulty diving, a July 13 MERR Facebook post said. There are a lot of algae and barnacles on its shell, as well as an injury at the rear of its shell, the post said. If you see the turtle, stay with it if possible and contact MERR at 302-228-5029. MERR representatives have responded to at least 11 deceased sea turtles in Delaware this year, nearly all of which were loggerheads, Executive Director Suzanne Thurman said. Most recently, they were unable to locate an apparently distressed loggerhead in the Indian River Bay June 21. Loggerhead sea turtles, and all other sea turtles in Delaware waters, are federally endangered. According to MERR, over 50% of sea turtles that strand in Delaware have boat propeller injuries, most of which are fatal. The organization is campaigning to raise awareness of boat propeller cages, similar to the cages that cover a house fan. "We feel like they're not widely known," Thurman said. "Looking at the big picture: If a turtle hits a propeller, that's going to damage the propeller. So, it's far less expensive to invest in this cage." A quick Amazon search showed many propeller cages for $100 or less, but the price depends on the size of the propeller. What to know: Delaware's 15 native turtle species and how to help them Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on southern Delaware and beyond. Reach her at smcnaught@ or on Facebook. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: MERR asks boaters for help with distressed turtle in Indian River Bay
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Loggerhead sea turtle spotted struggling in bay apparently free-swimming now: MERR
A loggerhead sea turtle spotted struggling in the Indian River Bay June 21 is apparently free-swimming now, according to the Lewes-based nonprofit Marine Education, Research and Rehabilitation Institute. MERR shared a photo of the turtle, which they said was provided by a boater who later lost track of it, on social media June 21. The turtle was surfacing briefly and repeatedly, the post said, and MERR urged other boaters to alert them if they spotted the turtle so they could assist it. "We don't know if it was entangled in something or injured, but it appeared to be struggling," the post said. That post was deleted, but an update was shared June 22. Natural resources police took MERR representatives out to the area where the turtle was spotted, the post said, and they searched extensively but were unable to locate it. "During our search we were able to scan the bottom and water column thanks to the 3-D depth finder on the vessel," the post said. "This enabled us to confirm that the turtle was apparently free swimming because it was nowhere in the vicinity of the original sighting." If you spot a sea turtle in the area, try to keep it in sight and contact MERR immediately at 302-228-5029. The loggerhead spotted June 21 may still be entangled in fishing gear or injured. "Safe and successful disentanglement of a multi-hundred pound animal in any depth of water requires special equipment so that the turtle isn't inadvertently injured," the post said. "This is also risky for rescuers, so it is always best to notify us so that we can bring our specialized equipment and trained personnel to the scene to assist the turtle." Loggerhead sea turtles, and all other sea turtles in Delaware waters, are federally endangered. Over 50% of those that strand in Delaware have boat propeller injuries, most of which are fatal, the post said. MERR is starting a campaign to raise awareness of boat propeller cages, similar to the cages that cover a house fan. "The cages help to protect sea turtles, terrapins, other wildlife, and boaters themselves from the harmful and even deadly impact of the blades, while also protecting the prop from damage during an impact," the post said. "The cost of the cages vary, but are far less costly than replacing a propeller in most cases." Testudines: What to know about Delaware's 15 native turtle species and how to help them Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on southern Delaware and beyond. Reach her at smcnaught@ or on Facebook. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: MERR searches for struggling loggerhead sea turtle spotted in bay
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A 302-pound loggerhead sea turtle hit by a boat gets an oversize CT scan, with a surprise
JUNO BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A massive loggerhead sea turtle hit by a boat off Florida's Atlantic coast arrived at a turtle hospital needing medical care, but at 302 pounds (137 kilograms), Pennywise was too large to fit their equipment. So the veterinary team at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach took her to nearby Jupiter Medical Center, hoping she could get a CT scan on a human machine. She was too big for that, as well. They quickly came up with another plan: taking Pennywise to Palm Beach Equine Clinic in Wellington, where the scan was performed on equipment designed for horses. 'And, luckily, the horse-sized machine was big enough to fit this lady through," Heather Barron, the chief science officer and veterinarian at Loggerhead, told The Associated Press. Turns out, they also got a nice surprise: Images showed that Pennywise is carrying eggs. 'We hope we'll be able to get her back out there into the wild as soon as possible so that she can lay those eggs," Barron said. Loggerheads, an endangered species, often lay multiple clutches during a season, she said. Pennywise arrived at the center Monday, after a crew from Inwater Research Group found her floating in the Atlantic with significant blunt force trauma to her shell that had already started to heal. The staff at the Juno Beach turtle center estimated that Pennywise's injuries were about a month old. Barron said the imaging showed some damage to bones that surround the spinal cord. They have the turtle on high-powered antibiotics. "Luckily, right now, her neurologic exam shows that all those nerves are intact. And that is a great sign for her. We're very excited about that and we'll just be rechecking to make sure that we have no progression of the disease, and as soon as we feel like that wound is healed well enough, she can go back out into the wild.' Even so, Barron said, Pennywise's story is a 'textbook case of a turtle returning to the area for mating and nesting season, only to fall victim to an entirely preventable boat-strike injury.' Because nesting season in Florida runs from March 1 to Oct. 31, officials at the sea turtle center are encouraging boaters to slow down and to be especially mindful in what they refer to as the Sea Turtle Protection Zone, which extends a mile (1.6 kilometers) off the coast. ___ Frisaro reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Cody Jackson And Freida Frisaro, The Associated Press
Associated Press
25-05-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
A 302-pound loggerhead sea turtle hit by a boat gets an oversize CT scan, with a surprise
JUNO BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A massive loggerhead sea turtle hit by a boat off Florida's Atlantic coast arrived at a turtle hospital needing medical care, but at 302 pounds (137 kilograms), Pennywise was too large to fit their equipment. So the veterinary team at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach took her to nearby Jupiter Medical Center, hoping she could get a CT scan on a human machine. She was too big for that, as well. They quickly came up with another plan: taking Pennywise to Palm Beach Equine Clinic in Wellington, where the scan was performed on equipment designed for horses. 'And, luckily, the horse-sized machine was big enough to fit this lady through,' Heather Barron, the chief science officer and veterinarian at Loggerhead, told The Associated Press. Turns out, they also got a nice surprise: Images showed that Pennywise is carrying eggs. 'We hope we'll be able to get her back out there into the wild as soon as possible so that she can lay those eggs,' Barron said. Loggerheads, an endangered species, often lay multiple clutches during a season, she said. Pennywise arrived at the center Monday, after a crew from Inwater Research Group found her floating in the Atlantic with significant blunt force trauma to her shell that had already started to heal. The staff at the Juno Beach turtle center estimated that Pennywise's injuries were about a month old. Barron said the imaging showed some damage to bones that surround the spinal cord. They have the turtle on high-powered antibiotics. 'Luckily, right now, her neurologic exam shows that all those nerves are intact. And that is a great sign for her. We're very excited about that and we'll just be rechecking to make sure that we have no progression of the disease, and as soon as we feel like that wound is healed well enough, she can go back out into the wild.' Even so, Barron said, Pennywise's story is a 'textbook case of a turtle returning to the area for mating and nesting season, only to fall victim to an entirely preventable boat-strike injury.' Because nesting season in Florida runs from March 1 to Oct. 31, officials at the sea turtle center are encouraging boaters to slow down and to be especially mindful in what they refer to as the Sea Turtle Protection Zone, which extends a mile (1.6 kilometers) off the coast. ___ Frisaro reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
