June 2, 2008

Two Hawksbill Sea Turtles were released near the Contents Keys. Fito (a post hatchling) had been found floating in a high boat traffic area at Ocean Reef in Key Large and Niles (a juvenile) was from Niles Channel near Summerland Key. The Contents Keys area provides a shallow reef system with coral rock ledges and a variety of sponges which makes it an ideal habitat for the small Hawksbills.

Turtle Hospital Staff were taken out by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service which oversees the area Wildlife Refuges.

Officer Steve Berger releasing Niles.

Turtle Hospital Staff Tom Luebke releasing Fito.