Sponsor the Care of Wind Scorpion
By sponsoring the care of sea turtle Wind Scorpion 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 Wind Scorpion with 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 wh-whitneylab@ufl.edu.
Wind Scorpion's Story
On May 29th, Wind Scorpion was spotted by some local friends from the St. Augustine Amphitheatre entangled beneath a floating dock in St. Augustine. The turtle was tangled in fishing line around the left front flipper and was brought to us by our partners with St. Johns County for a closer look.
Wind Scorpion arrived with a few extra passengers—barnacles, marsh mud, and marine leech eggs—as well as a heavy load of fibropapilloma tumors. While the fishing line was wrapped around the left flipper, our veterinary team noticed swelling in the right front flipper that raised some concerns. X-rays soon revealed the reason: a severe fracture of both the radius and ulna, along with a belly full of GI gas.
After receiving antibiotics, fluid therapy, and a two-hour freshwater spa treatment to evict the unwanted hitchhikers, Wind Scorpion settled into a rehabilitation tank. Despite being a bit buoyant, this hungry turtle wasted no time diving into the seafood menu. Wind Scorpion was able to reach the bottom of the tank to eat.
By the very next day, Wind Scorpion had already passed stool and was resting comfortably on the tank floor—a small but important victory as this resilient turtle begins the journey toward recovery.