Toot
- Patient Status
- Released Sept. 21, 2017
- Date Found
- June 27, 2017
- Location Found
- Northwest Pinellas Bayway, near Isla Del Sol, Pinellas County, FL
- Reason for Rescue
- Found floating, emaciated with epibiota growth on the carapace
TRIAGE
- WEIGHT
- 58.9 kg (129.9 lbs)
- SCL (STRAIGHT CARAPACE LENGTH)
- 87.1 cm (34.3 in)
- EXAM FINDINGS
- Quiet, lethargic, and thin. Large amount of epibiota (barnacles) on the carapace (shell).
- INITIAL TREATMENT
- Received vitamins, antibiotics, and fluids.
TOOT’S STORY
On June 27, 2017, fishermen found a sub-adult loggerhead floating near Tierra Verde in Pinellas County. It was covered in barnacles, and seemed very lethargic. The turtle was brought into Clearwater Marine Aquarium for triage and care.
The public can help turtles like these by reporting any sick or injured sea turtles they see along the shoreline when at the beach, or out in the water when on a boat by calling CMA’s 24-hour emergency stranding hotline at727-441-1790 Ext.1
- Fun Fact
- Toot is named after one of our volunteer’s cats!
TREATMENT UPDATES:
- 6.27.17
-
Started on a daily regimen of antibiotics, glucose checks, fluids, and Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN).
- 6.29.17
-
Swim test in shallow water, slowly began increasing time in shallow water.
- 7.1.17
-
Offered food for the first time. Slowly began to increase daily diet.
- 7.7.17
-
Staying in the water all day and all night for the first time.
- 7.11.17
-
Discontinued TPN, glucose checks, and fluids.
- 7.13.17
-
Discontinued antibiotics.
- 7.25.17
-
Started on oral medications.
- 9.7.17
-
Discontinued oral meds, and cleared for release!
- 9.21.17
-
Released on Clearwater Beach after 87 days in rehab. Good luck out there, Toot!
All marine turtle footage taken in Florida was obtained with the approval of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) under conditions not harmful to marine turtles. Footage was acquired while conducting authorized conservation activities pursuant to FWC MTP-17-172.