The United States Coast Guard recently rescued a distressed sea turtle in the Florida Keys. This is one of several turtle rescues they have performed this summer.
Last Thursday, members of the Coast Guard station in Key West, Florida, received a call. The Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Florida, alerted them to a sea turtle in trouble near Sunset Key. A boat crew had first reported the turtle to the hospital.
A Swift Rescue and Team Effort
Coast Guard members quickly went to the scene. They brought the turtle, which weighed over 100 pounds, ashore for treatment.
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Once ashore, the veterinary team took over. They named their new patient Baby Myrtle.
Bette Zirkelbach, general manager of the Turtle Hospital, praised the teamwork. "Teamwork makes the dream work, and we live in an amazing community," she said. "We are most grateful for U.S. Coast Guard in the Florida Keys and all of their help with rescuing sea turtles."
Baby Myrtle's Treatment and Recovery
On Tuesday morning, the Turtle Hospital provided an update on Baby Myrtle. When rescued, the green sea turtle was floating and could not dive. X-rays and a CT scan showed she had a pneumothorax. This meant air had built up in her body cavity, stopping her from diving normally.
The Turtle Hospital team performed a lung tap to remove the trapped air. They also gave Baby Myrtle antibiotics, fluids, and vitamins. Soon after, she moved to a hospital tank.
The latest update is that Baby Myrtle received a blood patch.
"We cross-matched blood from one of our permanent residents and blood donors, Sam," the hospital explained. This blood helped "patch" a suspected tear in Myrtle’s lung. The lung tap removes air, while the blood patch aims to seal the leak and help the lung heal.
After the blood patch procedure, Baby Myrtle had more X-rays. Then, she returned to the water.
The Turtle Hospital plans to share more updates on Baby Myrtle. The Coast Guard remains ready for any future sea turtle rescue calls.
"Protecting our waterways means protecting the wildlife that calls them home," the Coast Guard's southeast branch stated on Facebook.
