Teenage Turtles Released from Rehab

Kemp ridely sea turtle (NOAA)

Aquarium's rescued sea turtles heading home

On Vixen! On Prancer! On .... Oceana? They're probably not heading to the north pole, but the three sea turtles the National Aquarium released into the wild on Friday might just be heading in that general direction.

The aquarium and Oceana, an ocean protection organization, released three endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles into the Chesapeake Bay at Point Lookout State Park last week. The turtles had been recuperating at the aquarium since last winter, when they were founded stranded in Cape Cod.

Kemp’s ridley’s are the most endangered and smallest of all sea turtle species, Aquarium officials say. The wintertime Massachusett's water temperature was especially dangerous for the sensitive turtles.

But after months of TLC and rehab, Oceana, Prancer and Vixen were ready to attempt a voyage home. Aquarium staff released them on the beach where people gathered to send them off with a round of good-byes...

A feel good story for sure, but not likely to make a big impact on the survival of the Kemp's ridely turtles.  But I do hope they make it out of the Bay OK. It's a long paddle from Point Lookout to the Atlantic Ocean.