The Brightside: A Turtle’s Journey From Rescue To Release

OCEAN CITY, Md. — A new edition of The Brightside follows a turtle’s journey from rescue to release in Ocean City. Sponsored by Choptank Electric Cooperative.

After months of rehabilitation, nine lucky sea turtles are finally heading home. Wildlife experts and volunteers gathered on the beach in Ocean City for a release that drew plenty of smiles—and a few emotional goodbyes.

Director of National Aquarium Animal Rescue Malia Hale said, “To be able to take the animals and just release them right back off Maryland’s shore is just great. To have people come and support us and support the turtles as they make their way back into the wild, is a wonderful experience for us.”

But getting the turtles to this moment took months of work. Sea turtles that migrate to the Northeast for the summer sometimes stay too long. By the time November arrives, the water becomes too cold for their bodies to function properly.

“Temperatures start dropping below about 50 degrees, they start losing their ability to control their buoyancy,” said Hale.

That causes them to float, collide with objects, and eventually wash ashore, where volunteers rescue them.

“They usually have injuries to their shells, flippers, or heads. They can also come in with pneumonia and be very sick internally,” said Hale.

During the long rehabilitation process, wildlife experts get to know each turtle—and even give them names. This year’s naming theme was Baltimore neighborhoods.

Animal Rescue Manager Margot Madden said, “It was really fun to go through the communities and pick names that were special to the aquarium or to members of our team who live in those neighborhoods. It’s a fun way to connect with the city as well.”

As the turtles waddled toward the waves and back into the Atlantic, another successful release marked a victory for conservation efforts.

Hale said, “To have a part of animal rescue where people can actually see these animals return to the wild and live free is wonderful.”