Sea turtles have always fascinated me. Actually, all turtles! I had the opportunity when I was living in Lester Prairie to watch a small painted turtle dig a nest in which to bury her eggs. I missed her laying the eggs when my patience waned because the digging was taking so long. I stepped away for a minute to photograph something else in the bog, and when I got back she was already doing her tamping dance on top the closed nest. Though I missed the eggs, it was such a privilege to come upon her at that precious time.
Anyway, on our way back through the Florida Keys from the Dry Tortugas National Park we stopped at the Turtle Hospital at Marathon Key. It was so cool! The 90-minute tour gave us so much information, as well as the opportunity to feed the permanent resident turtles, and see some tiny baby turtles.
I loved the education piece. The guide was very knowledgeable, and knew the names and conditions of all the turtles, both those there for rehab and the permanent residents.
Did you know there are only 7 living species of sea turtles in all the ocean, and that five of those species are found around Florida? They are Green, Loggerhead, Leatherback, Hawksbill and Kemp’s Ridley turtles.
She also told us that many of the turtles brought to the hospital have tumors caused by a virus, and that environmental pollutants contribute to the tumors. The tumors are benign, but can cause death if they grow big enough. The tumors can be surgically removed, and the treatment given at the hospital is showing successes. One of the turtles treated was still clear of tumors and carried the necessary antibodies when it returned to the hospital years later for something else.
Before the Turtle Hospital existed, the property held a motel and girly club. Richie Moretti moved to Marathon Key and purchased the Hidden Harbor Motel, which had a tidal swimming pool. He enjoyed fishing, which put him in contact with injured or sick sea turtles. At first he took them to local vets, and then started rescuing, rehabilitating and returning sea turtles to the wild in 1984 when he received his first permit from the State of Florida to care for marine turtles. He turned the tidal pool into an aquarium, and eventually purchased the club, turning it into a vet clinic for sea turtles. It was one of the first facilities of its kind in the world at the time. For two decades, he funded the Turtle Hospital with income generated by the motel. Once he was told he couldn’t do both on the same property and had to choose between a permit for the motel or a permit for the care of marine turtles, he chose the turtles.
The hospital is now a nonprofit and is funded by admissions, educational programs and purchases in the gift shops. The old motel has been renovated and serves as housing for those who work at the hospital and for storage.
I’m really grateful organizations like this exist to help protect these amazing wonderful creatures. And, of course, I had to buy a T-shirt! If you want to check it out, here is the web address: turtlehospital.org
