Tybee Turtle Trot Release
AmeriCorps, Education, Events, Releases, Research, Scute, Sea Turtle, cold stun, tagging program, turtles 1 Comment »April 24th marked the 6th annual Marine Science Center‘s Turtle Trot up on Tybee Island, GA and the second year in a row that the GSTC team was there to release some of our sea turtle patients back to the ocean. This year we were saying goodbye and good luck to Kera and Mr. Hyde. Both are sub-adult loggerheads who came to us from North Carolina as cold-stun patients (see April 20th blog for more information!). After a few months of care by the GSTC staff, Kera and Mr. Hyde were ready to go.
Before being released and in addition to flipper tags and a PIT tag, both Kera and Mr. Hyde had satellite transmitters placed on their carapace. This allows us to track their travels during the first few weeks of their return home. Check our website for more information if you would like to follow these turtles as well.
The Turtle Trot race started off the day bright and early at 8:30am. The GSTC Education Staff was there with a booth about the center and some turtle specimens for participants and onlookers to enjoy. Scute, the GSTC mascot, made a guest appearance greeting the runners and families as they came off the beach. The turtles arrived on Tybee in the GSTC van around 9:30 am. As the race concluded, many of the runners and other participants gathered on the beach to see our turtles off. Mr. Hyde was released first, followed by Kera. In front of a large crowd, both turtles made their way into the water. As everyone watched, we could see them surface for air a few times while they swam further into the ocean.
It was exciting to see so many people come out for another successful release. Thank you to all who participated, and remember to check back for details on upcoming releases.
Sincerely,
Elissa Monahan and Heather McCarn
AmeriCorps Sea Turtle Night Patrol Members
PS Kera and Mr. Hyde will be eligible for adoption as Option #2 soon! Keep an eye on the website!














































