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A loggerhead sea turtle rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard and treated for boat-strike injuries at Mote Marine Laboratory was returned to the wild today, May 8, from Lido Key in Sarasota County.

The 255-pound, adult female turtle is nicknamed “Mrs. Turt Lee” after Chief Petty Officer Ekahi Lee, supervisor of the Coast Guard crewmembers who rescued the animal.

During today’s release, Mote caregivers and Coast Guard officials carried Mrs. Turt Lee down to the beach, surrounded by a crowd of well wishers. After the turtle got her bearings on the shore, Mote staff guided her out to sea. Once in the water, Mrs. Turt Lee raised her head to take a breath before swimming toward the horizon and out of sight.

“The release could not have gone any better,” said Lynne Byrd, Medical Care and Rehabilitation Coordinator for Mote. “Releasing this turtle back to her home is a great way to give back to the sea, which gives so much to us. One release may not change the world, but it changed the world for this turtle. We are so thankful to the Coast Guard crewmembers for helping us to help this animal.”

“It was really rewarding to participate in releasing this turtle,” said Seaman Jennifer Fye, one of the Coast Guard crewmembers from Station Cortez who helped rescue the turtle last year. “When you join the Coast Guard, you find out how many good things you can do; this was my first opportunity to help save a marine animal. We got the call about this turtle, we found her and we called Mote. We appreciate everything they did for her.”

In June 2014 a member of the public spotted Mrs. Turt Lee about one mile off Longboat Pass and reported the turtle to Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector St. Petersburg. Then Coast Guard Station Cortez crewmembers quickly mobilized a marine vessel for the rescue and notified Mote’s Stranding Investigations Program — a 24 hour response service for marine mammals and sea turtles in Sarasota and Manatee counties — that they would bring the turtle ashore. The turtle was unable to dive, had boat strike wounds across her upper shell, lacerations on her front flippers and the mark of an old shark bite. Coast Guard crewmembers lifted the turtle aboard their boat, cradled her atop a large rubber tire and delivered her to the boat ramp at Ken Thompson Park, near Mote.

Mote staff received the turtle in their truck, and with Coast Guard crewmembers assisting, transported the turtle to Mote’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital. There, Mrs. Turt Lee was given wound care, fluids and food, along with antibiotics and treatment for lethargic loggerhead syndrome, a condition caused by blood parasites.

After nearly a year of care, the turtle’s shell had greatly improved and her bloodwork looked normal. She might even be ready to mate soon — an ultrasound in April 2015 revealed that she is carrying large follicles, precursors to eggs. Mote staff shared these findings with state wildlife officials, who declared Mrs. Turt Lee ready for release.

“Our goal is to return these animals to the ocean whenever we can — we want to give them the chance to live out their natural lives, reproduce and contribute to the population,” Byrd said.

Mote’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital has treated more than 450 sea turtle patients since 1995. All sea turtles are endangered or threatened species protected by state and federal laws, so helping each animal recover is vital.
 
Mote offers a special thanks to all the Coast Guard crewmembers who helped respond to Mrs. Turt Lee: Petty Officer 2nd Class Kyle Gaub, Petty Officer 2nd Class Wilson Sorrentini, Petty Officer 2nd Class Tyler Keil, Petty Officer 3rd Class Jose Perez, Fireman Nicklaus Becton and Seaman Jennifer Fye from Coast Guard Station Cortez.

Mrs. Turt Lee’s story is a reminder to be vigilant for marine life, particularly during sea turtle nesting season, which runs from May 1-Oct. 31 along Southwest Florida’s coast.

Boaters: Keep the waters turtle-friendly this summer
Boaters should follow Coast Guard-approved safe boating guidelines and use vigilance to avoid striking sea turtles and other large marine life.
 
Be sure to stow trash and line when under way. Marine debris that accidentally blows overboard or out of a truck can become ingested by or entangled around marine life.
 
Wear polarized sunglasses to better see marine life in your path.
 
While viewing any large marine animals, follow 10 viewing tips (designed for dolphins, but suitable for other large marine species too). Click here for a PDF.
 
Emergency contacts
If you see a sick, injured or stranded sea turtle, dolphin or whale in Sarasota or Manatee county waters, contact Mote Marine Laboratory’s Stranding Investigations Program at 888-345-2335. For manatees, and for any marine animals outside of Sarasota or Manatee counties, please call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) at 888-404-FWCC (3922).