Yesterday we were invited to participate in a turtle release, on our section of beach, where our "Share The Beach" volunteer crew does sunrise patrols from May through August. We look for turtle nests, mark and monitor then we count 55 days then return there to nest sit, awaiting the hatchlings to make sure they make it safely down the beach to their life journey. We do that until the very last turtle is welcomed to the world. But yesterday was a rare chance to participate in a rehab release. This female laggerhead turtle's ordeal began this July just down the beach at the Gulf State pier. She had swallowed a fishing hook, and since they breathe through their trachea, required medical attention. Park officers and good Samaritans worked together to her ashore and contact the appropriate folks. Apparently she has hard some tough encounters in her life, she was missing a flipper and her shell was damaged by her tail. She was quickly transported to The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport, MS where she got the care she needed to bounce back from her latest trauma. They named her Sequoia, put a chip in her and tagged her so her progress and travels can be monitored. Just 32 days later she was brought back to our Gulf Shores beach so should be released and put back on her journey, and we were there!! She was transported from the main road via a golf cart and she was greeted by all of us who lined a path for her, like a runway, for her last steps on the beach before swimming away. Her crawl is slow, because of the missing front flipper, but once she gets out into the surf there was nothing slow about her :-) She sped off while to applause and well wishes and hopes that she continues to thrive wherever she goes, and maybe, just maybe, we might see her again when it's the me to lay her eggs in the future. Thank you to each and every person who contributed to saving her and making this day possible. Bottom line: Sea turtles are majestic and gentle animals whose population is finally rebounding and it was a really awesome opportunity to help Sequoia go home!! No matter where you are if you spot a sea turtle in need of medical assistance or wrapped up in rope, other debris, or in any kind of stress call the stranding and entanglement hotline: 866-755-6622 (NOAA) "All footage obtained with approval of USF&W under conditions not harmful to this & other sea turtles" Share The Beach https://www.joinacf.org/stb The young lady overseeing the release was wearing a NOAA Sea Turtle Research logo shirt. They do great work, read more about them and about sea turtles here: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/sea-turtles/ Rehabilitation took place at: The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport, MS https://www.facebook.com/InstituteForMarineMammalStudies/ "All footage obtained with approval of USF&W under conditions not harmful to this & other sea turtles" read more

Share The Beach - Sea turtles make me happy! Some of the ones we help hatch can be around for a hundred or more new years, that's just cool. - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me