If you’ve ever wanted to experience the heartwarming thrill of releasing a wild animal back into the wild – today is your lucky day. Micklers, a juvenile green sea turtle that is The Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Laboratory’s 13th patient, is now ready for release. This will be the first sea turtle release since the rehabilitation facility in southern St. Johns County opened in Oct. 2015. The release is open to the public and scheduled for Jan. 21, 2016, at 3pm at the beach access area on the east side of A1A just south of Whitney Laboratory located at 9505 Ocean Shore Blvd.
On Dec. 21, 2015, a beach walker on Crescent Beach discovered Micklers. The turtle was affectionately named after his sponsor. When found, Micklers suffered from low blood glucose, cold stunning and air trapped in his/her gastrointestinal tract. Staff promptly began treatment, including antibiotics and medications, to help facilitate gastrointestinal tract motility.
Now, just several weeks later, Micklers is swimming and diving like a healthy wild sea turtle and ready to return to his/her natural home.
“Micklers is the first of many sea turtles that Whitney’s Sea Turtle Hospital will rehabilitate and release back to its habitat,” said Catherine Eastman, sea turtle program coordinator. “This is an exciting day for the hospital and its supporters.”
