Pierce, AKA Fargo

Loggerhead (Caretta caretta)

(ST11045)

Age Class Subadult
Gender Unknown
Date Stranded June 28, 2011
Location of Stranding Venice at Sharky's On the Pier
Date of Arrival June 28, 2011
Number of Days of Care 917 days

Final Disposition

Released

Pierce upon arrival as the first hook is removed. The tube the turtle is biting helps protect animal care staff while they remove the hook from the animal's mouth.

6/29 Turtle was hooked by a shark fisherman at the Venice Pier and brought in for rehabilitation. The hook was removed that night. Two radiographs showed that the turtle had ingested several hooks. We will monitior the animal to see if any of the other hooks are causing a problem. It's usually best to wait for the hooks to rust away, but sometimes surgery is necessary.  7/3 The turtle is finally eating! 7/31 The turtle remains off medication and is eating great.8/13 Pierce had surgery to remove the two hooks that remain. We were able to remove one hook, and we will watch the other one closely using through radiographs (X-rays). When the barb on the final hook deteriorates and the turtle's blood work is normal we can release the turtle.  9/12 Pierce had another set of radiographs taken this weekend and the hook remians in the same area.  Will monitor the hook for another couple weeks and decide on a release date. 10/10"Fargo"— named for Wells Fargo in honor of a recent donation the company made to the hospital, will be released tomorrow morning from Lido Beach. 10/11 Fargo returned to the wild!
 

Happening at Mote

Fin Fact

Mote scientists have been pioneering marine aquaponics—farming saltwater fish and plants together in a sustainable, closed-loop system. In fact, Mote has launched an 8,216-square-foot aquaponics farm to demonstrate this exciting sustainable food technology at a scale relevant to commercial farms.

@motemarinelab #motemarinelab