Loggerhead Admitted with Multiple Skull Fractures

On July 20, 2012, the South Carolina Aquarium Sea Turtle Rescue Program received its fourth admittance of the month. This 53-pound loggerhead was found floating in Jones Creek in Georgetown County suffering from multiple boat propeller strikes. Although "George" has a dislocated bone in the front left flipper and lacerations to the neck and marginal scutes, the propeller did most damage to the skull. One strike cut off most of the nares (nostrils) and top portion of the beak. The propeller also struck the left side of the skull, fracturing both the maxilla (upper jaw) and mandible (lower jaw). Since loggerheads eat hard shelled prey in the wild, these jaw fractures are of great concern.

Profile view of the damage to George's face/skull.

View of the strike that caused multiple fractures to the upper and lower jaw.

Staff biologist Christi Hughes draws blood to be analyzed; those results are vital to proper treatment.

X-ray showing fractures to both the upper and lower jaws.

X-ray showing dislocated radile and laceration to the marginal scutes.

Despite the extensive injuries George has suffered, he continues to fight. This turtle is on two antibiotics, recieves fluids and vitamins regularly, and topical antibiotics are applied to external wounds as needed. The prognosis is still guarded but we are hopeful. Huge thanks to the folks from CMERA for their aid in the rescue and to Kelly Sloan from SCDNR for transporting the turtle. Look for updates on George's status and possible surgical procedures in the near future here on our hospital page.

Whitney Daniel

Sea Turtle Biologist

Critically Ill Loggerhead, Atalaya, Hangs on to Life

The third sea turtle admitted into the Aquarium's Sea Turtle Hospital in July is Atalaya, a sub-adult loggerhead that stranded at Huntington Beach State Park. This poor turtle is extremely debilitated, suffering from severe emaciation, dehydration, and critically low blood levels including no blood glucose and a 5% hematocrit (% red blood cells...normal is 30-40%). We are tremendously grateful for the generous donation from Loggerhead Apparel of the funds to buy a new i-STAT blood machine. Getting a thorough blood analysis when the turtles first arrive is critical to successful treatment!

Triage took place in the  Aquarium's Animal Medical Facility and included fluid therapy (IV 50%dextrose and hetastarch, SQ 5% dextrose and sodium chloride), antibiotic injections (ceftazadime and danofloxacin), and vitamin injections (B-Complex, C and K). The turtle was then dry docked in the Sea Turtle Hospital with an overnight drip of Normosol fluids. Dry docking an animal in this condition is important because they could drown in water that covers their nares (nostrils).

Jeff McClary, head of SCUTE, helped to get the turtle from Huntington to Georgetown and SCDNR transported the rest of the way to find Sea Turtle Rescue staff awaiting their arrival.

The emaciated loggerhead hardly moved during the admission process. The heavy barnacle load is an indication that the turtle has been lethargic in the ocean. 

Marine leeches were removed from the corners of the mouth. Notice how sunken the eyes are...a sign of dehydration and lack of muscles and fat behind the eyes.

Dr. Boylan gives fluids IV in the dorsal sinus.

After 2.5 hours of treatment, the turtle was moved into the ICU tank in the Sea Turtle Hospital.

After 2 nights of dry dock, Atalaya is now swimming in shallow water. She isn't eating yet and we plan to tube feed a gruel with fish and vitamins to get some nutrition on board.   

Huge thanks to all involved in Atalaya's rescue! To David LaManna from NY who found the turtle and made the calls to get her rescued; Chris Bowers, beach ranger from Huntington for responding to the stranding; Jeff McClary, fearless leader of SCUTE for transporting Atalaya from Huntington to the Sewee Outpost in Awendaw and who is always willing to drive sick and injured sea turtles to get help; Bill Brabson for volunteering to ride with Jeff for assistance; and Amy Gutierrez from SCDNR for transporting the remainder of the trip. With patients in critical condition, it takes a great deal of support to get them here as soon as possible for treatment. Also, a huge thanks to our dedicated staff and volunteers that come in on a moment's notice on evenings, weekends and holidays to help save these turtles. Atalaya's prognosis is still guarded but we are thrilled that she is still with us today!

Kelly Thorvalson

Sea Turtle Rescue Program Manager

Gumby's One Year Anniversary

If you have made a visit to the South Carolina Aquarium's Sea Turtle Hospital recently, you have met our spunky loggerhead Gumby! His feisty attitude and curious nature always make him a visitor favorite. If you are new to Gumby’s story, you can read about his admission and his December update here. It is truly remarkable to see how far Gumby has come just in one year!

Gumby was found stranded on the beach of Kiawah Island on June 26, 2011.

Over the past 12 months with the help of a healthy diet, vitamins and exposure to UV light, staff and volunteers have watched drastic changes in Gumby's size and demeanor. Upon admittance Gumby weighed only 6.5 pounds, had severe metabolic bone disease, and was extremely lethargic. He is now 6 times that original weight,  weighing in at 39 pounds and has also almost doubled in length. We also have seen a significant change with his demeanor, watching transform into the feisty sea turtle he is today.

Plastron comparison of Gumby over the year.

Profile comparison showing not only Gumby's changes physically but also the vibrant change in coloration.

A great shot to fully grasp how Gumby has grown in just one year!

Regardless of Gumby's troubled past, his natural instincts are still present. Gumby shows off his hunting abilities in the video below enjoy!

Come see Gumby's remarkable changes first hand on one of tours!

Whitney Daniel

Sea Turtle Biologist

Second sea turtle admitted in two days

On June 18^th, a 56-pound juvenile loggerhead sea turtle was caught near Bulls Bay by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) research vessel, the Lady Lisa. The Lady Lisa is one of two vessels used for the SCDNR In-water research program that assesses the health and population status of sea turtles along the South Carolina and Georgia coasts via trawling. The turtle suffered a minor wound to the soft tissues surrounding the eye from a stingray barb. Initial blood values analyzed on the boat were less than what we consider normal for a healthy sea turtle (packed cell volume=25%, total solids=1). Due to the puncture wound, poor blood values, and moderately heavy barnacle coverage, this loggerhead was transferred to our sea turtle hospital with help from the crew of the Lady Lisa and the Principle Investigator of the in-water program, Mike Arendt.

Mike Arendt and crew delivering "Bulls" at Ft. Johnson to SCA staff to be transported to the sea turtle hospital.

Dr. Shane Boylan drawing blood to check current blood values.

Close look of the puncture wound to the soft tissue surrounding Bulls' eye.

Dr. Shane Boylan checking Bulls' eye to rule out any damage potentially sustained from the barb.

After arriving at the hospital, “Bulls Bay” was examined by our veterinarian, Dr. Shane Boylan. Bulls’ prescribed treatment included antibiotics, fluids, and a fluorescein eye stain. Bulls was fortunate enough not to sustain any damage to the eye from the stingray barb. We will continue to monitor the wound and Bulls blood values, especially the white blood cell count which can become elevated from the venom released from the barb. Prognosis if very good and we are hoping for a quick recovery! You can monitor Bulls’ progress here or come see first-hand on one of our tours!

Whitney Daniel

Sea Turtle Biologist

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Loggerhead caught on Folly Pier admitted with shark bite wound

Yesterday morning, a recreational fisherman at the Folly Beach fishing pier caught something unexpected: a 60-pound juvenile loggerhead sea turtle. The fisherman netted the turtle in order to remove the boom from its mouth and, upon closer inspection, discovered the turtle had a large bite-shaped chunk missing from the back of its shell.

This bite-shaped wound was observed on the right side of Pier's shell. The right rear flipper is visible in the photo.

Although the fishing hook was safely removed, the conspicuous shell wound was actively bleeding. Thanks to efforts by Charleston County Parks & Recreation and Folly Beach Public Safety, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources sea turtle stranding hotline was contacted at 1-800-922-5431. Shannon Teders, Biologist for the South Carolina Aquarium and member of the Folly nesting and stranding network, responded to the stranding and transported the turtle to the Aquarium's Sea Turtle Hospital.

Inspection of the shell wound by our veterinarian, Dr. Shane Boylan, revealed that the injury had occurred at least one month prior to admission. Wild sea turtles can be surprisingly resilient and, despite the considerable carapace damage, this juvenile loggerhead we’ve named “Pier” is in relatively good health. Pier’s heart rate was strong at 36 beats per minute, his blood values were normal (PCV=36%, TS=3.2), and radiographs revealed no hooks or other radiodense foreign bodies present internally.

Dr. Shane Boylan took digital x-rays of Pier to rule out the presence of internal hooks, as well as to verify Pier's lungs were clear and his skeletal system was free of problems.

Pier's beak and visible mouth parts were inspected for damage. Loggerheads have a strong beak with immense bite force designed to eat hard-shelled prey.

SCA intern, Meredith Bleuer, and staff Biologist, Whitney Daniel, obtain Pier's carapace measurements. 

Pier’s prognosis is good, and we are hoping for a quick recovery. You may follow Pier's progress on our hospital page here. Come visit this feisty loggerhead in our hospital during one of our regularly scheduled tours and wish him well as he recovers!

Pier is lucky the damage wasn't more extensive. He swims well with all four flippers and is extremely active!

Christi Hughes
Sea Turtle Biologist

152-pound loggerhead admitted into South Carolina Aquarium

A 69 kg (152 lb) loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) was captured on June 7 by the SC Department of Natural Resources In-Water Program as part of an ongoing health and population assessment of sea turtles in the Western Atlantic. The turtle was caught just north of the Charleston Channel and suffered puncture wounds from the barb of a stingray captured in the same net. Thanks to the quick response to the team aboard the Lady Lisa research vessel, the animal was taken to shore and transported to the Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Hospital where it could receive treatment and monitoring of the wounds.

 "Charlie" is a beautiful loggerhead with healthy body score, excellent blood values (PCV 38%, TS 4.0), and a tail length that suggests this animal may be a male moving into maturity. Test are being performed to measure the level of testosterone in the blood which should give a definitive gender identity.

A ceftazadime (antibiotic) injection was administered. Blood gas values showed a minor acidosis (moderate lactates at 7.43 mmol/L) which was treated with bicarb in subcutaneous fluids.

Radiographs show a variety of radiodense materials like crab parts and snail shells in the gastrointestinal tract.

The 4" stingray barb was embedded in the front left flipper at the joint and punctured the ventral side of the neck.

The wounds were flushed well with sterile saline.

After all medical treatments were administered, Charlie was taken down into the Sea Turtle Hospital where he met Dewees, another loggerhead undergoing rehabilitation.

Bloodwork will be closely followed to watch the white blood cell count which often swings after stingray barb venom is released in the animal's tissue. Wounds will be monitored for necrosing tissue as a result of the "sting". Hopefully the exceptional health of this turtle will aid in healing these wounds quickly!

Visit Charlie and the other patients at the Sea Turtle Hospital. Tour days and times are listed here. Hope to see you soon!
Kelly Thorvalson

News from Lexi, Sea Turtle Hospital Intern

Hello sea turtle lovers! My name is Lexi and I am lucky enough to be one of the South Carolina Aquarium’s Sea Turtle  Rescue Program interns this summer. While we as interns have many different responsibilities around the hospital, one very exciting thing we get to do every week is to spend a day working “in the field” protecting sea turtle nests. This past Tuesday, I had the privilege of working with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service on Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, where loggerhead sea turtle nesting density is really high. My day began at 4:45 a.m. with a 45-minute drive out to Garris Landing and another 20 minute ride out to the dock in McClellanville. But let me tell you, the haul was worth it! I got to see the sun come up over the marsh and was welcomed by a dolphin in the tidal creek on the way out to the barrier islands.  I kept thinking to myself, is this real life?

A girl who works with the SC Department of Natural Resources and I were dropped off at the first island, Lighthouse. We were left with our backpacks, some poles, buckets, a shovel, nest cages, and the keys to the four-wheeler. Once we got the four-wheeler loaded, we traveled to the far end of the beach and scouted for nests on our way. We relocated the nests as we worked our way back.  Each nest is buried a little over a foot underground and carries a range of 80 to 120+ eggs.  The eggs seemed quite fragile, resembling deflated ping-pong balls. Once we carefully dug them up and place them gently in the bucket, we reburied the eggs safely above the high tide line, usually around some vegetated dunes.  After we buried them, we placed a cage over the nest. This keeps predators such as raccoons and crabs out, but still allows the baby turtles to crawl out of the nest once they hatch.  We had five nests total, and relocated four of them.

You can tell by the flipper marks where the turtle crawled in from the water and where the crawled out of the nesting site.  You can also tell by the flipper marks if the female turtle had a “stumpy” flipper (where it could have been injured a boat or predator). Interestingly enough, the only nest that we did not have to relocate was created by a “stumpy” female turtle! This just goes to show you how amazing these guys are and how strong their instincts are to fulfill their “goal” of reproducing, no matter what the struggle. 

It’s such a great feeling being able to help the species fulfill this goal by increasing the likelihood that the hatchlings make it through the incubation process and back out to the ocean. This was so much fun for me and I can’t wait to go back to Cape Romain!

Alexis (Lexi)