CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida – A loggerhead sea turtle was rescued from the beach along Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Wednesday.
The 45th Civil Engineer Squadron biologist staff Angy Chambers, Rachel Mandel and Rick Brust rescued a 175 pound loggerhead sea turtle just north of Space Launch Complex 37.
The female loggerhead was found during a normal early season sea turtle nesting census being conducted by Mandel. The loggerhead was rescued because there was heavy growth of epibiota on her carapace which could indicate internal issues and ill health.
Chambers, Mandel and Brust rescued and kept the sea turtle in triage until she could be transported to Sea World for rehabilitation and hopefully a release back into the wild.
March 1 is the official start of the sea turtle nesting season. Leatherback sea turtles begin to come ashore from March through July to lay their eggs. Loggerhead sea turtles arrive a month later and typically nest in Florida from April through September.
Brevard County, Florida has more loggerhead nests each year than anywhere else in the United States. Last year, FWC counted 23,977 Loggerhead nests on Brevard County beaches.
Photo credit: USAF 45th Civil Engineer Squadron
