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Sea turtle rescue

2 min read

To the editor:

My heartfelt thanks to the Crossed Palms Gallery and the many folks on Main Street in Bokeelia that assisted in the rescue of a loggerhead turtle on Thursday. The 60- to 70-pound turtle had three prop cuts through the shell on her back, and had crawled ashore behind the historic cracker house on the north side of Main Street. A special thanks to the lady that gave us a large bed comforter to use as a sling and to the people that provided wet towels to keep her moist, as well as the folks that helped load her in my van. I took her to Burnt Store Marina, where I turned her over to the marine rescue group Coastal Marine Patrol. They rushed her to Mote Marine in Sarasota, where she is currently receiving treatment. Her condition is serious, and we won’t know for a few days how she will fare. But at least the good folks on Main Street gave her a chance at survival.

Loggerhead turtles are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. They nest on the western shores of Sanibel and Captiva but only rarely enter Pine Island Sound. One very notable exception is the loggerhead that recently nested on the east end of Bocilla Island. I do not believe this to be the same animal since this one does not appear to be old enough to breed.

Phil Buchanan

CROW Volunteer