Slash

Green (Chelonia mydas)

(ST 1070)

Age Class	Juvenile
Gender	Unknown
Date Stranded	March 19, 2010
Location of Stranding	Stump Pass, Charlotte County
Date of Arrival	March 19, 2010
Number of Days of Care	<1

Final Disposition

Died March 21, 2010

3/21/2010 This turtle was transported to Mote by volunteers yesterday evening, one of several sea turtles in the area to be struck by boats in the afternoon. With the sun finally coming out, green sea turtles rest on the surface to soak up the warmth and sun, making them very vulnerable to inattentive boaters. This turtle had a deep fracture of the carapace over the left shoulder and extending forward to the soft tissues. X-rays were taken that showed some injury to the lung below the fracture. Slash was very lethargic and breathing shallowly on admission. The turtle was placed in shallow water, but did not surface to breathe well, and was dry-docked with antibiotics, pain medications and fluids. Sadly, the turtle died quietly overnight. A necropsy will be performed to determine the extent of the injury.