VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – A sub-adult loggerhead sea turtle named Wombat is back in the wild after spending three months recovering at the Marine Science Center in Volusia County.
Wombat stranded just north of the center in Wilbur-by-the-Sea at the end of March. According to Allie Bernstein, manager of turtle rehabilitation at the Marine Science Center, the turtle arrived in poor condition.
“Underweight, lethargic, anemic, and covered in epibiota, which is an indication that they’ve been sick for a period of time,” Bernstein said.
Staff treated Wombat with antibiotics, vitamin injections, fluid therapy and nutritional supplementation. Bernstein said the turtle made a full recovery.
“We’re very happy to get him back out there,” she said.
At roughly 100 pounds, Wombat still has significant growing to do before reaching adulthood. Bernstein said loggerheads can grow to approximately 250 pounds.
“This particular loggerhead is still a sub-adult, so it still has a lot of growing to do,” Bernstein said. “The goal is to be able to get back out there and eventually become part of the breeding population.”
Bernstein said loggerheads are the predominant species nesting on Volusia County beaches during nesting season, though leatherbacks, green sea turtles and Kemp’s Ridleys also come ashore.
The Marine Science Center has recorded 205 sea turtle intakes since the start of the busy season, in addition to roughly 85 to 90 gopher tortoises and freshwater turtles. About 20 sea turtles are currently in care at the facility.
Bernstein explained that the center’s busiest intake period runs from January through April.
“Those turtles are chronically debilitated for weeks to months at that point, sick or injured, and then the colder weather, the rougher surf, colder ocean temps — just kind of that extra stressor that pushes them over the edge and then they strand,” she said.
While Wombat was not part of a cold-stun event, Bernstein said the turtle came in during that same high-intake season.
When turtles first arrive at the center, staff document their size, weight, stranding location and any anomalies before conducting diagnostics, including blood work, X-rays and — in some cases — ultrasound or CT scans. Treatment plans typically include antibiotics, fluids, vitamin injections, pain management and wound care.
Bernstein noted that Wombat’s personality was a good sign heading into release day.
“The closer they get to release, the feistier they can become,” she said. “So that’s what we want to see. When they’re feisty, we know they’re getting ready.”
To prepare for transport, staff placed Wombat in a specialized sling and scale system to safely secure the turtle for the trip to the beach.
Before release, staff fitted Wombat with two flipper tags and a microchip. Bernstein said the tags serve as a visual identification tool for researchers, nesting monitors and anyone who may encounter the turtle in the future.
“Whether it be a research vessel, or eventually if it is a female and it ever comes up to nest — as a visual identification that this turtle has encountered humans before, whether it be rehab, research, things like that,” Bernstein said.
She said the hope is that Wombat goes on to contribute to the next generation of loggerheads.
“Hopefully it goes out there and becomes part of the breeding population and helps with the next generations of loggerhead,” she said.
The release was open to the public something the center hadn’t been able to offer in some time due to renovations and a nearby beach renourishment project.
“We’re very excited to be able to share this with the community,” Bernstein said.
The center also added a fun personal detail: each year, staff pick a naming theme for incoming turtles. This year’s theme is animals, hence “Wombat.”
“It kind of leads for some fun to determine which name is gonna be what turtle, and our visitors really think it’s fun too,” Bernstein said.
Bernstein confirmed that, despite the name, the loggerhead shares no characteristics with an actual wombat.
“Loggerheads have a really big head, and that helps them crush,” she said, noting that Wombat’s diet consisted of squid, mackerel, fish and crab.
In addition to animal rehabilitation, the center is open to the public as an education and conservation facility, offering exhibits related to local habitats in Volusia County.
With a record nesting season already underway on local beaches, Bernstein said the team is bracing for the next wave of patients.
“We’re anticipating those hatchlings to start coming into the center in the next few weeks,” she said. “We’re preparing for that, but yep — we’re here for it.”