SANIBEL, Fla. — Two loggerhead sea turtles were released last week after months of rehabilitation at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation for Wildlife (CROW).
One loggerhead sea turtle was admitted to CROW from Bonita Springs on April 8 after she was found floating with over two feet of fishing line extending from her cloaca. Upon further examination, veterinarians discovered she had a large fishing hook stuck inside of her.
After she was unable to pass the fishing hook through her body on her own, CROW’s caretakers were able to successfully remove the hook during surgery. However, after the surgery, the turtle was still suffering from buoyancy issues.
CROW’s staff placed fixated weights on top of her shell to allow any gas to pass through that was causing her to float. But this did not work and CT scan revealed that the turtle had a collapsed lung along with free floating air in the body cavity, according to CROW.
She had to undergo another surgery to suction out the air and after 54 days of care with CROW, she was released.
Shane Antalick
Shane Antalick
Shane Antalick
The second loggerhead sea turtle was admitted to CROW on April 28 from Everglades City. The female loggerhead sea turtle was discovered floating with deformities, CROW said.
Officials found several abrasions, lesions, and lacerations on her body along with heavy algae and barnacle growth on her shell. The turtle’s shell and fins also were deformed. CROW officials believe the deformities potentially came from a form of entanglement during the sea turtle’s development.
Veterinarians also discovered she was suffering from pneumonia and gas trapped in her intestines possibly causing buoyancy issues.
After 34 days of care, she was released alongside the first female loggerhead sea turtle that was found in Bonita Springs.
