Pictured: Mote Marine Laboratory and The Florida Aquarium release "Mahomes" off Anna Maria Bayfront Park. Photo courtesy of Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium.

Mote Marine Laboratory and The Florida Aquarium are thrilled to announce the release of two rescued loggerhead sea turtles nicknamed, "Valerie" and "Mahomes," at Anna Maria Bayfront Park Tuesday morning, May 30. This momentous event marks the finish line of months of dedicated care and rehabilitation provided by Mote's Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital and The Florida Aquarium Turtle Rehabilitation Center. "Valerie" was discovered floating nearshore on Longboat Key, and initial observations suggested the turtle was affected by toxins from red tide. She was transported to Mote’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital on Feb. 21 and began receiving injectable antibiotics and subcutaneous fluids until symptoms improved. When "Valerie" arrived at the hospital, Mote scientists found that she already had a flipper tag and a passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag. The PIT tag, placed by Mote's Sea Turtle Conservation & Research Program in 2019, gives the turtle a unique barcode identification number that allows our scientists to gain valuable insights into "Valerie's" migratory patterns, growth rates, survival, and reproductive output. Similarly, "Mahomes" was found washed ashore off Casey Key Road in Sarasota County and showed symptoms of red tide toxicity. Initially admitted to Mote's Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital on Feb. 13, "Mahomes" was later transferred to Mote's nearby neighbors at The Florida Aquarium Turtle Rehabilitation Center on Feb. 24 to better prepare Mote for the high numbers of incoming sea turtle patients affected by toxic red tide exposure. Requiring similar treatment, “Mahomes” received antibiotics and supportive care during the course of rehabilitation at The Florida Aquarium to help rid the sea turtle's body of toxins. Before the release, "Mahomes" was outfitted with a satellite tag by The Florida Aquarium and the Sea Turtle Conservancy. These tags provide critically important information about diving, feeding, migratory and activity patterns all while recording corresponding environmental data such as water temperatures. This data help better understand the patient's behavior after reintroduction and provides key insight for future rehabilitation and conservation efforts. Under the meticulous care of both facilities' dedicated staff members, "Valerie" and "Mahomes" have made remarkable recoveries, successfully clearing all health assessments mandated by wildlife officials and were cleared for release. Within Sarasota or Manatee county waters, if you see a stranded or dead sea turtle, dolphin or whale, please call Mote's Stranding Investigations Program, a 24-hour response service, at 941-988-0212. If you see a stranded or dead manatee anywhere in state waters or a stranded or dead sea turtle, dolphin or whale outside of Sarasota or Manatee counties, please call the FWC Wildlife Alert hotline at 1 (888) 404-FWCC (3922). Mote's sea turtle activities are conducted under Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Marine Turtle Permits 155, 216, 027, 054, 070, 048, 126 and 028.

Pictured: Mote Marine Laboratory and The Florida Aquarium release "Mahomes" off Anna Maria Bayfront Park. Photo courtesy of Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium.