Sponsor the Care of Buckeye
By sponsoring the care of sea turtle Buckeye you'll be supporting the Sea Turtle Hospital and the work we do to research, rehab and release these amazing animals. Your sponsorship can provide Buckeye important medical supplies, nutritious food, critical exams and other types of care provided while at the Sea Turtle Hospital.
Suggested amount to sponsor the care of a turtle is $50. We appreciate gifts above $50 as well.
For joining us, you'll receive:
- A personalized certificate and choice to have it mailed to your home or emailed
- A monthly email update
- Advance notice of the turtle’s release (attendance at release not guaranteed)
You can even give a turtle sponsorship as a gift!
Please allow 2 weeks for mailed certificate to arrive. Emailed certificates sent within 3-4 business days.
For questions about sponsoring, please contact wlmb@whitney.ufl.edu.
Buckeye's Story
On March 3rd, our 130th patient of 2025, “Buckeye Island,” was found washed ashore along the coastline of Canaveral National Seashore. After being rescued, Buckeye was transported to our friends at the Volusia Marine Science Center for initial assessment and care. During intake, Buckeye was found to have a mild case of fibropapillomatosis (FP), with a single tumor located on the lower right shoulder.
The following day, Buckeye was transferred to our hospital for continued treatment. Upon arrival, our veterinary team noted that the keratin layer covering the carapace was unhealthy, and a superficial fracture was present on the marginal scute above the right rear flipper. Additional concerns included a thin body condition, mild edema, and abdominal distention. Buckeye was also carrying a significant load of marine leech eggs and adult leeches, which can further compromise a sea turtle’s health. Fortunately, bloodwork results were within normal limits, providing a solid baseline to guide our treatment plan.
Immediate care was required for the unhealthy carapace and the marginal fracture. The fracture site was cleaned and stabilized by our veterinarian, with no further complications identified. Our veterinary team began daily wound care, which included thorough cleaning of the carapace and application of MediHoney to promote healing and prevent infection.
Once stable, Buckeye was transported to Precision Imaging Center for a complete CT scan. This was performed to rule out internal FP tumors and assess for any internal complications related to the fracture. After review, Dr. Brooke confirmed that aside from the superficial fracture, all imaging appeared normal—marking a significant step forward in Buckeye’s recovery.
Now, Buckeye is focused on gaining weight and continuing the healing process. While there’s still a journey ahead, this little turtle is responding well to treatment and showing promising signs of improvement.