The Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) Sea Turtle Hotline received a call last week reporting a sea turtle in possible trouble offshore. A male loggerhead sea turtle was found exhibiting abnormal behavior and having trouble surfacing for air.
SCCF staff quickly mobilized by first attempting to swim to the sea turtles aid; however, due to deep water, this was quickly realized to be ineffective. But thanks to Linda Linsmayer and Billy Kirkland (of Billy’s Bikes), who lent SCCF the use of their kayak and boat, staff and volunteers were able to stabilize the sea turtle and bring him to shore.
The turtle is now in the good hands of Clinic of the Rehabilitation of Wildlife.
Remaining at sea for the entirety of their lives following a short stint on the beach as a hatchling, this was a rare opportunity to encounter an adult male sea turtle. As a result of spending their entire lives at sea and therefore being the subject of much fewer research studies (compared to the more frequently encountered adult female population), much still remains to be discovered about adult males.
As researchers investigate the potential feminization of sea turtles in Florida, the dynamics of the male population become even more critical to understand. Every male is important to maintaining sustainable breeding populations and SCCF hopes that this turtle will be released into the wild following successful treatment and rehabilitation.
Founded in 1967, SCCF is dedicated to the conservation of coastal habitats and aquatic resources on Sanibel and Captiva and in the surrounding watershed. To learn more please visit www.sccf.org or call 239-472-2329. Anyone who spots a sea turtle in distress can call SCCF’s sea turtle hotline at 978-728-3663 (978-SAVE-ONE).
