Tyndall Turtle Trackers

Meet “Betsy!” Affectionately nicknamed “Squeak” for his/her adorably tiny size, Betsy is a juvenile green turtle that was found on the morning of May 24 by a sea turtle nesting surveyor with Tyndall Turtle Trackers. Betsy was stranded on the shoreline and entangled in a large fishing net. Betsy was quickly rescued and brought into our care where he/she received a full veterinary exam which revealed an entanglement wound on the left rear flipper and compromised shell integrity near the caudal region as well as overall dehydration. After receiving much needed fluids and rest, Betsy is now showing increased energy and a good appetite!

This unfortunate stranding serves as an important reminder to properly dispose of all fishing gear. “Ghost nets,” or any lost/abandoned fishing nets, are a major entanglement threat to sea turtles as well as marine mammals, fish, birds and other marine animals. This continued capture is referred to as “ghost fishing” and can harm many animals over the course of months or years as the nets float around in the ocean.

In addition to proper gear disposal, we strongly encourage participating in local beach cleanups and marine debris removal programs to help keep our oceans clean! Together we can turn the tide against ocean pollution and make a safer environment for Betsy and all marine animals!