Following their terrifying trek over State Road A1A near Beverly Beach and their eventual entrapment in two storm drains at the Oceanside Condominiums, five leatherback sea turtle hatchlings are now under the care of Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience.
Around midday, Flagler Turtle Patrol called Flagler County Fire Rescue, and the rescue got underway. Fire Rescue workers Battalion 40 and Engine 40 were led to two distinct storm drains, each around six feet deep, by Turtle Patrol member Jenn Jakush.
Firefighters carefully took the five hatchlings and placed them in plastic containers for safety after removing the heavy drain covers, donning gas masks, setting up ladders, and climbing down.
According to Fire Rescue Captain Mike Pius, today is very favorable for us to assist in the rescue of some of our cherished juvenile sea turtles.
In the hopes that they could be released back into the water this evening, the rescued turtles were then taken to Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience for assessment and rehabilitation.
Immediately thereafter, firefighters were dispatched to a car accident on Interstate 95, according to Fire Chief Mike Tucker. They are working on another rescue and didn’t even have time to dwell on the first one. We are a fantastic team. That’s what they do every single day.
Flagler Turtle Patrol can be contacted at [email protected] for additional information.
