Warming Up

Weather is finally returning to more normal winter temperatures in the Keys, as marine biologists from Fish & Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) and KML assisted the Marathon Turtle Hospital in weighing, measuring, and tagging many of the rescued cold-stunned turtles in preparation for their return to the wild.

Once the large Loggerheads and adult Hawksbills had warmed up and recovered for a few days, FWRI staff used their boats to transport them out to the warmer waters near Sombrero Reef. When Florida Bay water temps finally nudged above 60F, KML offered their boats and staff to assist with releasing nearly 100 smaller Hawksbills and Greens.

KML's Cindy Lewis releasing small Green turtle from the R/V Mola Mola

Sue Schaf (FWRI), Whitney Crowder (FWRI), and Cindy Lewis (KML) releasing Hawksbills at KML along the seawall

Hawksbills waiting their turn to be released

FWC and FIO staff along with local media and a crew from The Turtle Hospital aboard the R/V Diodon leaving the marina at KML to release the last load of patients

KML's Andrew Crowder and The Turtle Hospital's Ryan Butts releasing a Green sea turtle back into Florida Bay near the Everglades National Park

This release was picked up by the AP and seen nationally, to see video of the action follow the link below:

http://www.boomboxradio.net/boombox/PlayerSetup/Players/WVNSTVPlayer.aspx?FileId=241051_wvnstv

Deep Freeze in the Keys

It has been a bitter cold weekend down here for Keys residents, including the marine life. With air temperatures hovering at 39F this morning and icy north winds howling in over Florida Bay (wind chill of 28F - yes, we can have a windchill factor here too!) water temps in the Bay have been only 45F. It's just not supposed to get this cold at 24 degrees north latitude! We've seen hundreds of grunts and snappers, dozens of burrfish, boxfish, bonefish, and groupers (including reds, blacks, & Nassaus) dead and dying in the rack along our seawall. Our display animals have not fared well either. With no way to warm the large 122,000 gallon flow-through Shallows (waters temperatures down to 44F) we lost our bonnethead shark, both tarpon, the bonefish, numerous snapper and jacks. We have heaters in our above-ground tanks for our spiny lobsters, slipper lobsters, assorted crabs and mollusks, and the mantis shrimp. But with the wind whipping around the tanks, water temps are only hovering at 57F. Needless to say, the invertebrates are still very sluggish but hanging on! KML staff have been patrolling the seawall searching for any potential survivors. We have numerous burrfish, boxfish and a queen angel slowly reviving in the warming tanks.

Cold-stunned sea turtles have floated in to KML shores on the north winds. Wagons have been handy for moving the large turtles, like this big Loggerhead....
...and some, like this little Hawksbill, are small enough to just carry........in to the office to warm up....
.... until FWC Sea Turtle Stranding Co-ordinator, Sue Schaf could transport them to the Marathon Turtle Hospital. So far, KML has rescued 4 Loggerheads, 3 Hawksbills, and a Green turtle but we expect more will float by in the next few days before the waters warm up. Air temperatures are expected to be in the 70's by week's end and Bay temps should slowly improve too, allowing for the release of the rescued animals.
Adult female Loggerhead 230 lbs - largest rescued turtle received at the Turtle Hospital so far this week