Latest news with #HeatherBarron
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A 302-pound loggerhead sea turtle hit by a boat gets an oversize CT scan, with a surprise
JUNO BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A massive loggerhead sea turtle hit by a boat off Florida's Atlantic coast arrived at a turtle hospital needing medical care, but at 302 pounds (137 kilograms), Pennywise was too large to fit their equipment. So the veterinary team at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach took her to nearby Jupiter Medical Center, hoping she could get a CT scan on a human machine. She was too big for that, as well. They quickly came up with another plan: taking Pennywise to Palm Beach Equine Clinic in Wellington, where the scan was performed on equipment designed for horses. 'And, luckily, the horse-sized machine was big enough to fit this lady through," Heather Barron, the chief science officer and veterinarian at Loggerhead, told The Associated Press. Turns out, they also got a nice surprise: Images showed that Pennywise is carrying eggs. 'We hope we'll be able to get her back out there into the wild as soon as possible so that she can lay those eggs," Barron said. Loggerheads, an endangered species, often lay multiple clutches during a season, she said. Pennywise arrived at the center Monday, after a crew from Inwater Research Group found her floating in the Atlantic with significant blunt force trauma to her shell that had already started to heal. The staff at the Juno Beach turtle center estimated that Pennywise's injuries were about a month old. Barron said the imaging showed some damage to bones that surround the spinal cord. They have the turtle on high-powered antibiotics. "Luckily, right now, her neurologic exam shows that all those nerves are intact. And that is a great sign for her. We're very excited about that and we'll just be rechecking to make sure that we have no progression of the disease, and as soon as we feel like that wound is healed well enough, she can go back out into the wild.' Even so, Barron said, Pennywise's story is a 'textbook case of a turtle returning to the area for mating and nesting season, only to fall victim to an entirely preventable boat-strike injury.' Because nesting season in Florida runs from March 1 to Oct. 31, officials at the sea turtle center are encouraging boaters to slow down and to be especially mindful in what they refer to as the Sea Turtle Protection Zone, which extends a mile (1.6 kilometers) off the coast. ___ Frisaro reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Cody Jackson And Freida Frisaro, The Associated Press
Associated Press
25-05-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
A 302-pound loggerhead sea turtle hit by a boat gets an oversize CT scan, with a surprise
JUNO BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A massive loggerhead sea turtle hit by a boat off Florida's Atlantic coast arrived at a turtle hospital needing medical care, but at 302 pounds (137 kilograms), Pennywise was too large to fit their equipment. So the veterinary team at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach took her to nearby Jupiter Medical Center, hoping she could get a CT scan on a human machine. She was too big for that, as well. They quickly came up with another plan: taking Pennywise to Palm Beach Equine Clinic in Wellington, where the scan was performed on equipment designed for horses. 'And, luckily, the horse-sized machine was big enough to fit this lady through,' Heather Barron, the chief science officer and veterinarian at Loggerhead, told The Associated Press. Turns out, they also got a nice surprise: Images showed that Pennywise is carrying eggs. 'We hope we'll be able to get her back out there into the wild as soon as possible so that she can lay those eggs,' Barron said. Loggerheads, an endangered species, often lay multiple clutches during a season, she said. Pennywise arrived at the center Monday, after a crew from Inwater Research Group found her floating in the Atlantic with significant blunt force trauma to her shell that had already started to heal. The staff at the Juno Beach turtle center estimated that Pennywise's injuries were about a month old. Barron said the imaging showed some damage to bones that surround the spinal cord. They have the turtle on high-powered antibiotics. 'Luckily, right now, her neurologic exam shows that all those nerves are intact. And that is a great sign for her. We're very excited about that and we'll just be rechecking to make sure that we have no progression of the disease, and as soon as we feel like that wound is healed well enough, she can go back out into the wild.' Even so, Barron said, Pennywise's story is a 'textbook case of a turtle returning to the area for mating and nesting season, only to fall victim to an entirely preventable boat-strike injury.' Because nesting season in Florida runs from March 1 to Oct. 31, officials at the sea turtle center are encouraging boaters to slow down and to be especially mindful in what they refer to as the Sea Turtle Protection Zone, which extends a mile (1.6 kilometers) off the coast. ___ Frisaro reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Sea turtles return to the Atlantic Ocean off Florida after being stunned by the cold
JUNO BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Eight green sea turtles were released back into the Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday, nearly a month after an arctic blast brought a rare snowfall to northern Florida and left the aquatic reptiles suffering from a condition known as cold stunning. A total of 17 sea turtles found stranded last month along Florida's northeastern Atlantic Coast were brought to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, north of West Palm Beach, for rehabilitation. 'There are so many turtles that were affected by that cold stunning event that happened several weeks ago," lead veterinarian Dr. Heather Barron said. "The cold really suppresses their immune system because they are reptiles, and their body temperature is taken from the surrounding temperature of the water.' See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. It snowed as far south as northern Florida, which is extremely rare, and the frigid temperatures reached South Florida. More than a dozen additional turtles have been brought to Loggerhead Marinelife Center since the initial group, and other turtle facilities around the state have reached capacity. Veterinarians have been treating the turtles with antibiotics, fluids and intravenous nutrition. They all suffered from cold stunning, which causes sea turtles to lose mobility and become lethargic. Most of the turtles are expected to be released back into the ocean in a few weeks. Loggerhead Marinelife Center expects to host over 15,000 people this upcoming weekend at its 20th Annual TurtleFest. The free event focuses on promoting ocean conservation through interactive educational exhibits and marine life.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Sea turtles return to the Atlantic Ocean off Florida after being stunned by the cold
JUNO BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Eight green sea turtles were released back into the Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday, nearly a month after an arctic blast brought a rare snowfall to northern Florida and left the aquatic reptiles suffering from a condition known as cold stunning. A total of 17 sea turtles found stranded last month along Florida's northeastern Atlantic Coast were brought to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, north of West Palm Beach, for rehabilitation. 'There are so many turtles that were affected by that cold stunning event that happened several weeks ago," lead veterinarian Dr. Heather Barron said. "The cold really suppresses their immune system because they are reptiles, and their body temperature is taken from the surrounding temperature of the water.' It snowed as far south as northern Florida, which is extremely rare, and the frigid temperatures reached South Florida. More than a dozen additional turtles have been brought to Loggerhead Marinelife Center since the initial group, and other turtle facilities around the state have reached capacity. Veterinarians have been treating the turtles with antibiotics, fluids and intravenous nutrition. They all suffered from cold stunning, which causes sea turtles to lose mobility and become lethargic. Most of the turtles are expected to be released back into the ocean in a few weeks. Loggerhead Marinelife Center expects to host over 15,000 people this upcoming weekend at its 20th Annual TurtleFest. The free event focuses on promoting ocean conservation through interactive educational exhibits and marine life. The Associated Press
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Sea turtles return to the Atlantic Ocean off Florida after being stunned by the cold
JUNO BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Eight green sea turtles were released back into the Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday, nearly a month after an arctic blast brought a rare snowfall to northern Florida and left the aquatic reptiles suffering from a condition known as cold stunning. A total of 17 sea turtles found stranded last month along Florida's northeastern Atlantic Coast were brought to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, north of West Palm Beach, for rehabilitation. 'There are so many turtles that were affected by that cold stunning event that happened several weeks ago," lead veterinarian Dr. Heather Barron said. "The cold really suppresses their immune system because they are reptiles, and their body temperature is taken from the surrounding temperature of the water.' See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. It snowed as far south as northern Florida, which is extremely rare, and the frigid temperatures reached South Florida. More than a dozen additional turtles have been brought to Loggerhead Marinelife Center since the initial group, and other turtle facilities around the state have reached capacity. Veterinarians have been treating the turtles with antibiotics, fluids and intravenous nutrition. They all suffered from cold stunning, which causes sea turtles to lose mobility and become lethargic. Most of the turtles are expected to be released back into the ocean in a few weeks. Loggerhead Marinelife Center expects to host over 15,000 people this upcoming weekend at its 20th Annual TurtleFest. The free event focuses on promoting ocean conservation through interactive educational exhibits and marine life.
