Gumbo Limbo Nature Center is happy to announce that our Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center is back up and running, and just in time!
Since December 17, we have received eleven green sea turtles that have stranded due to cold weather in other areas of the state. These strandings occurred in areas where juvenile sea turtles typically are affected by cold weather. For more informaion, please see the FWC press release.
One of the turtles was healthy, and after a few days of warming up, has been returned to the Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission for release. Ten green turtles remain in the facility for care. Two of these turtles (Mischa and Nermal) were patients in our facility in early 2010 during the large, statewide cold stun event.
Visit our Rehab Center and talk to our docents to learn more about our current patients!
Our Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center is open:
Monday - Saturday, 10 - 11:30 am and 1 - 2:30 pm
Sunday, 1 - 2:30 pm
On October 23, the Town of Lantana hosted its’ third annual Greenfest, where green living alternatives, such as solar energy, windpower energy, recycling, and water-saving devices, were showcased. Gumbo Limbo Nature Center had a booth at the event manned by Manager Stefanie Ouellette, Marine Turtle Specialists David Anderson, Juan Duarte, and Trevor Tyner, and Marine Conservationist Kirt Rusenko. Board member Ginny Root also assisted with our outreach . WXEL radio’s Radio Green Earth program was at the event; check out their website to see what you can do to make more environmentally-friendly choices in your daily life. There was an appearance of the all-electric Tesla car, that can go zero to 60 miles per hour in about 3 seconds using lithium-ion batteries. VB Engineering, the group that installed the solar panels on our laboratory roof to generate electricity, gave a presentation about solar energy. A variety of other groups, such as the Sierra Club, beekeepers, green cosmetics
Leatherback 15
Loggerhead 577
Green 131
Loggerhead 577
Green 131
Discover Florida’s Nature Coast: The Crystal River and Surrounding Areas
Source:
Gumbo Limbo Nature Center
Date:
October 5, 2010
The Nature Coast of Florida is known for its crystal clear springs and streams as well as its wintering manatees. Join other Gumbo Limbo travelers as we explore this beautiful area.
Thursday is mostly a travel day. Crystal River is about 70 miles north of Tampa. After we check into the Plantation Inn and settle into our rooms, our first experience will be a discussion led by Matt Clemons, a biologist who worked for a nearby state park before recently retiring. We’ll learn about the manatees’ lives and behavior as well as how we should conduct ourselves on Friday when we are in the water with them. If you need snorkel equipment and a wetsuit, you’ll be able to arrange for it at the dive shop on the Inn’s property before our session with Matt. Thursday dinner will be on our own. Suggestions for dinner restaurants will be available. More...
Do you have piles of un-needed CDs, DVDs, and computer discs lying around? If so, please donate them to Gumbo Limbo. We are collecting unwanted discs to be used for making craft projects from recycled materials. We are also collecting clean, flattened paperboard (cereal boxes, tissue boxes, etc.). We will be collecting these materials through the end of October, and making the projects at our booth at the Wyland Green Fair in November. Materials may be droped off at the front desk of the Nature Center. Don't forget to visit our booths at the fair! Thanks for helping us Recycle and Reuse!
Gumbo Limbo’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Facility gained experience handling cold stunned sea turtles this past winter, but they were not expecting a case at the end of summer.
On Tuesday morning (9/28) a juvenile green sea turtle was brought to Gumbo Limbo by City of Boca Raton Recreation Services staff. They had been working at Silver Palm Park Boat Ramp when a park visitor noticed an angler with a sea turtle. When questioned about the turtle, the fisherman fled the park. Park staff and the visitor then placed the turtle back into the water, but it remained motionless and floating at the surface. The turtle was then taken to Gumbo Limbo Nature Center for care.
The Marine Turtle Specialists at Gumbo Limbo quickly determined why the turtle was acting odd when returned to the water; it was ice cold! The turtle was so incredibly cold that water began to condense on its shell, just like a on a cold glass of lemonade on hot day. More...
Gumbo Limbo Nature Center Responds to Beached Whale
Source:
Gumbo Limbo Nature Center
Date:
September 2, 2010
Gumbo Limbo Nature Center’s Marine Conservationist, Dr. Kirt Rusenko, responded to a stranding of a juvenile pygmy sperm whale. The whale died from unknown causes, and washed up in Delray Beach in the early morning hours on September 2. Dr. Rusenko was contacted by the Marine Animal Rescue Society (MARS) and asked to photograph and measure the whale. The tail of the whale had been cut off by a local fisherman, who was then apprehended by Delray Beach police for violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Under this law, all marine mammals (dead or alive) are protected. More...
The Sea Turtle Conservancy Provides Money to Improve Lighting at Boca Mar Condominium
Source:
Gumbo Limbo Nature Center
Date:
August 24, 2010
Gumbo Limbo Nature Center received a $25,000 grant, provided by Sea Turtle Conservancy through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Recovered Oil Fund for Wildlife, to update Boca Mar Condominium’s outdoor lighting to meet city ordinances requiring sea turtle friendly lighting. Gumbo Limbo is also applying for additional funds to expand the capacity and overall function of our Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Facility.
“We are pleased to receive this grant to assist the residents of Boca Mar Condominium. Many of the residents are elderly and cannot afford to update the building to comply to code even though their desire is to do so. We have been searching for funding for this project for several years. Upon completion of the project, we will have greater consistency along our local beaches in maintaining a safe habitat for one of the busiest urban nesting sites for loggerhead sea turtles in the world,” said Dr. Kirt Rusenko, Gumbo Limbo Nature Center Marine Conservationist. More..
Significant progress has been made to permanently cap the Deepwater Horizon oil well. Government scientists estimate that 75% of the 4.9 million barrels of oil has been cleaned up or is in the process of naturally degrading. However, more than 1.2 million barrels of oil remain in Gulf of Mexico waters, marshes, and on beaches. This amount is still greater than the total amount spilled by the Exxon Valdez, the second largest oil spill in United States history. More...
One of Gumbo Limbo’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Docents shared a recent experience she had while on duty:
The cutest little girl, who was about 6 years old, and her little brother recently dropped by the
Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center. Even at their young ages, their parents get them involved in
beach cleanups. I asked her if she wanted to know how she could help the turtles and she
nodded “yes.” I told her that whenever she goes to birthday parties that have balloons, make
sure everyone knows not to let them float up into the air, because they will eventually end up
in the ocean, the turtles will eat them, thinking they are jellyfish, and they will probably die.
She looked at me so intently, never blinking. After I finished she continued to look at me
intensely for several long seconds and then she threw open her arms and gave me the biggest
hug. Apparently, she was
given a little mission, which she accepted and took to heart. It was so sweet ....MORE