INSPIRATION
Two recent success stories include Crush and Fluke . Crush was stranded in Jarvis Creek near Hilton Head Island , SC . A green sea turtle , Crush was found floating at the surface of the water and was unable to dive . Crush had a heavy epibiota load of sea squirts and barnacles on his top shell and was affected by the cold weather and water temperatures off the South Carolina coast .
Fluke , a Kemp ’ s ridley , was “ caught ” by a fisherman at Price Inlet , near Caper ’ s Island , SC . Unfortunately , Fluke had swallowed the line and required surgery to remove the hook .
After months of treatment and rehabilitation , both turtles were released into the warm waters of Big Talbot State Park , Jacksonville , FL , with PIT tags ( PIT tags are similar to microchips and can be scanned ).
To find out more about sea turtle rescue efforts , check out :
Ways You Can Help Sea Turtles
• Organize a beach clean-up day .
• Never leave fishing line behind .
• Do not feed sea turtles or other wildlife .
• Reduce the amount of plastic garbage you produce .
• Turn off the lights . Keep beachfront lights off throughout the night from May to October as they can confuse sea turtles during the mating season .
• Reduce the amount of fertilizers you use . Lawn and garden fertilizers wash into coastal waters , killing plants and animals .
• Don ’ t release helium balloons . They end up drifting into the oceans where sea turtles mistake them for one of their main food sources , jellyfish .
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