5 Sea Turtles Beat 'Crusty Green' Disease in Florida
Five juvenile green sea turtles arrived at a Florida hospital covered in barnacles, battling hypothermia, and fighting a debilitating tumor disease. Two months later, they're swimming strong and heading back to the ocean.
When Sir Barksalot arrived at The Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Florida, he looked nothing like the healthy sea turtle he was meant to be. The young green sea turtle was covered in barnacles, recovering from hypothermia, and fighting fibropapillomatosis, a disease that causes cauliflower-like tumors on their skin, eyes, mouth, and internal organs.
He wasn't alone. Four other juvenile green sea turtles arrived in similar condition, all rescued from northern Florida waters. The staff nicknamed them the "Crusty Greens": Sir Barksalot, Shih Tzu, Cavalier, Boykin, and Rottweiler.
"When these juvenile green sea turtles first arrived at our hospital, they were battling the effects of chronic cold stunning, fibropapillomatosis, and other serious health challenges," shared Bette Zirkelbach, manager at The Turtle Hospital. Many were weak, lethargic, and required months of dedicated medical care and monitoring.
But two months of rehabilitation changed everything. Hospital staff carefully removed barnacles, treated tumors, and helped the turtles regain their strength through specialized care and nutrition.
"The difference is remarkable," Zirkelbach said in a May Facebook post. "These turtles are healthier, stronger, and looking more like the wild sea turtles they were meant to be."
Why This Inspires
The transformation shows what's possible when humans step in to help wildlife in crisis. These five turtles went from barely surviving to thriving, spending their days swimming, diving, and building strength for their return to the wild.
The Turtle Hospital handles dozens of these rescues every year. In December, they saved a small green sea turtle named Nutella who had a fishing line in her stomach. Last August, they removed a 10.1-pound tumor from a 170-pound loggerhead named Molly.
"Watching these transformations never gets old," Zirkelbach said. "Every turtle that regains its health is a testament to the power of rescue, rehabilitation, and the incredible teamwork that makes recovery possible."
The Crusty Greens arrived in rough shape, but they're leaving as confident, healthy turtles ready for their next chapter back in the ocean.
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Based on reporting by Good Good Good
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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