A pair of juvenile green sea turtles returned to the ocean off Delray Beach, Florida, despite rough surf, and one of them had just been rescued for the second time after getting caught in fishing gear.
Wind gusts in the 30s did not keep people away from Atlantic Dunes Park, where the sendoff turned into a small community celebration, WPBF 25 News reported.
Here's what to know
At Atlantic Dunes Park in Delray Beach, Sea Turtle Specialists released Windward and Wheezy after rescuing and rehabilitating them, despite waves rising above 10 feet.
Windward was the first to return to the water. The juvenile green sea turtle had already needed help once before and returned to care after being found hooked a second time.
Rescuers found Wheezy with fishing line wrapped around its neck, making it impossible for the turtle to breathe.
For beachgoers, the release offered a rare chance to see local marine wildlife up close. One onlooker, identified as Diane, described how quickly the trip came together.
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"No, it's really funny because my husband was outside and somebody at the hotel was like, 'they're releasing turtles,' so we put on our shoes, and we came to the beach," she said.
More background
According to WPBF 25 News and Whitney Crowder, Sea Turtle Specialists' co-founder and director of operations, the event was the group's second public sea turtle release.
The event gave Delray Beach residents and visitors a firsthand look at the work involved in rescuing and rehabilitating injured sea turtles.
Sea Turtle Specialists is a women-led rescue group. It has existed for three years and has been officially open for one full year. During that time, the team has helped more than 3,000 hatchlings and 50 sea turtles, including Windward and Wheezy.
What's being done?
Sea Turtle Specialists took in both turtles, rehabilitated them, and returned them to the ocean only after they were ready to swim on their own.
Wheezy needed a just-in-time rescue after fishing line around the turtle's neck left it unable to breathe, while Windward's case became a repeat emergency when the turtle was found hooked again.
By holding public releases at Atlantic Dunes Park, the group is showing residents what rehabilitation looks like after a turtle is found injured, tangled, or otherwise in trouble along South Florida's coast.
That public connection is part of the goal, said Whitney Crowder, co-founder and director of operations at Sea Turtle Specialists.
Crowder said, "This is our second public sea turtle release that we've done within the year and were just so excited to be here today celebrating with Delray Beach and all these amazing people."
Where can I learn more?
Windward and Wheezy's release is one example of the dangers sea turtles face from fishing gear, injuries, and rough surf. These stories follow other turtle rescues and releases in Florida and beyond, from pier entanglements to rehab returns.
• In Florida, firefighters helped free a juvenile turtle after fishing line left it trapped.
• The Royal Navy helped rare sea turtles return home after storms pushed them off course.
• In North Carolina, scientists returned a green sea turtle to the ocean after rehabilitation.
• At Navarre Beach Pier, responders walked through a turtle rescue as bystanders watched each step.
• On a Florida pier, eight men hoisted a 172-pound turtle over the railing.
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