Some came to check it off their bucket list, while others just happened on the event.
But all had a great time as the Gulfarium CARE Center released two rehabilitated loggerhead sea turtles on Aug. 6 at Inlet Beach Regional Access in Walton County.
By 8:15 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6, about 100 people had already gathered on the beach; some sat in beach chairs, while others found a spot near the ropes that marked off the pathway for the turtles to make their way back into the Gulf.
However, as the 9 a.m. release time for the turtles neared, the crowd had grown to about 300 people.
Some had claimed their spot on the front lines as early as 7:35 a.m. Suzanne and Mike Muenter of Santa Rosa Beach had a front row seat for the event in their lawn chairs.
“We’ve been to several,” Mike said.
“It’s amazing … I get choked up,” Suzanne said when she sees the turtles making their way back to the Gulf.
“This is the closest thing to see an animal getting back to its natural habitat,” Suzanne said, noting she’s always been an ocean lover.
“They do a lot of good work,” she said of the Gulfarium.
Three little girls ― Addison, 7, Emerson, 7, and Harper, 4 ― off the Sheffler family from Ohio, thought they were going to see a turtle race when they heard there were turtles in the big tubs under the tent.
Although there was no racing, the girls still enjoyed the event and went home with a turtle sticker from Gulfarium.
Beth Fowler of Americus, Georgia, who was there with her husband, John, was able to cross off one of her things on her bucket list.
“This was on my bucket list,” Beth said.
“She’s a turtle nut,” John chimed in.
The couple, who are staying at Seagrove Beach, had a place in line by 8:05 a.m.
Turtle time
The Gulfarium CARE Center released two on Aug. 6.
The first to go was Hotdog, a 106-pound subadult loggerhead sea turtle that was admitted after being accidentally hooked at the Navarre Beach Fishing Pier on July 4 – which is how he got his name.
After Hotdog was admitted, staff discovered an additional hook in his stomach during X-rays. Veterinary staff successfully removed all the fishing gear from his stomach. After his bloodwork cleared and he passed a swim evaluation, Hotdog was cleared for release.
Second to be released was Donatello, a 165-pound adult female loggerhead sea turtle who was a repeat patient, admitted after being accidently hooked at the Navarre Beach Fishing Pier.
“Based on her measurements, which exceed 90 centimeters (about the length of a baseball bat), and her short, non-visible tail extending from the back of her shell, we’re able to confirm that Donatello is a fully grown female,” said Sarah Kamen, stranding coordinator for the Gulfarium CARE Center.
During her rehab, she received fluids, vitamins and iron to aid in her recovery. She responded well to treatment and was cleared to be released.
Both Hotdog and Donatello forged their way through the sand, leaving behind a track, and into the Gulf where they paddled away as the crowd cheered.
Turtle tracks
The release event on Thursday, was just one of many that have been held along area beaches since April. They have been held in partnership with the St. Joe Community Foundation, which supports the center’s rescue and rehabilitation work.
“For whatever reason, this season started earlier than in the past. Usually, it starts to pick up at the beginning of May, but it started picking up at the beginning of April this year. And we haven’t stopped since,” Kamen said as they waited to release the two turtles on Aug. 6.
And several of the turtles that are being admitted are repeat turtles.
“We are also seeing a higher volume of turtles,” Kamen said.
The CARE Center and Gulf Specimen in Panacea are the only two facilities that are currently dealing with stranded sea turtles.
“We’re getting all the turtles from Panama City Beach as well, because of the need for rehab along the Panhandle. So, it is increasing our patient intake load,” she said.
“It’s keeping us busy, and I like staying busy. And I love being able to help,” Kamen said.
Right now, the CARE Center has 11 sea turtles that are still being cared for.
Earlier this year, they had 35 turtles at one time.
Turtle journey
The release time for each turtle is different and depends on medical clearance.
“If we only have one, they are going to go. We don’t want to hold them back unnecessarily … they are wild animals,” Kamen said, noting they like to release them as soon as they are ready to go.
At the CARE Center they send out blood work on a weekly basis, which helps to determine if medications need to be continued or not.
“We send it in groups each week. When it comes back, our vet staff will do full exams and x-rays, and they are cleared in groups,” she said.
So, sometimes a release event has two and sometimes seven.
Kamen said 85% of the turtles they see have been accidentally hooked at a local fishing pier. Some hooks can be removed easily, and the turtle can be cleared and released right away.
“Some of the others have internal hooks and other ailments that cause them to stay a little bit longer,” she said.
“A lot of the cases we have left are critical … one is a shark attack, others recovering from surgery,” Kamen said, noting it may be a couple of months before they are cleared.
“But that’s not to say we won’t have some coming in and have another release by the end of summer,” Kamen said.
This article originally appeared on The Destin Log: Crowd cheers as rehabilitated sea turtles swim free in Walton County
Reporting by Tina Harbuck, The Destin Log / The Destin Log
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Tina Harbuck, The Destin Log | USA TODAY Network
