Patient story
Meet Squirt
Discover how your support helps turtles like Squirt return home.
Patient Info
SPECIES
Green Sea Turtle
aGE
3-5Years
wEIGHT
5 Lbs
DATE ARRIVED
01/28/2026
ISSUE
Hook/Infection
the story
About Squirt
Squirt was admitted after becoming hooked while feeding near a fishing pier. The fishing hook became lodged beneath the tongue and was fortunately not swallowed. Squirt was most likely finding easy food items near the pier due to being sick and not having the energy to find their normal food items.
Rescue
Squirt was caught on a fishing hook and carefully reeled into a net near the Deerfield Beach Pier. The rescue team stabilized the hook and line so that it would not cause more damage during transport. Squirt was then driven to the STS hospital for immediate care.
Diagnose
Radiographs showed no evidence of internal hooks. Turtles who arrive with external hooks sometimes also have hooks internally from swallowing them in the past. Bloodwork showed a systemic infection. Large barnacles were in abundance on the carapace, indicating that Squirt had not been active like a healthy turtle.
Care
The hook was removed upon arrival and a full exam was performed. Trauma caused by the hook was monitored as the soft tissue damage healed. Antibiotics were used to combat the systemic infection. Squirt also received a full and balanced diet to aid with their overall health.
Fun Fact
Barnacles are a normal epibiont (organism that lives attached to another organism) found on turtles. Barnacles are marine crustaceans that filter feed using feathery appendages. An overgrowth of barnacles covering the surface of the carapace and skin can indicate that the turtle is not active but instead sedentary often due to illness.
Released!
March 23, 2026
Squirt made a full recovery and was released back into the Atlantic Ocean on March 23, 2026!