Sea turtle struck by boat rescued near Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station
Photo courtesy of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center.
A sea turtle reportedly struck by a boat is now recovering at an Atlantic County marine mammal rehabilitation facility.
The 140 pound female loggerhead was rescued yesterday near the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station in Ocean County’s Forked River after it was spotted on the plant’s intake pipe, according to a release from the Marine Mammal Stranding Center.
“A worker pushed the turtle back in the water but she kept coming back up to rest,” the release said. “Officials with the MMSC say the turtle had wounds showing she’d been hit by a boat that left her with what appears to be partial paralysis of her rear flippers.”
A veterinarian is examining the reptile today at MMSC in Brigantine, the state’s only facility dedicated to the rescue of sick and injured marine mammals and sea turtles.
A MMSC spokesperson said the sea turtle is “eating her weight in crabs,” requesting donations from anyone with live bluepoint crabs.
If you can contribute, call the facility at 609-266-0539. The organization relies solely on donations for its rescues and rehabilitation. Anyone interested in donating can visit www.mmsc.org.
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