Strandings

Gumbo Limbo Nature Center provides assistance to sick and injured sea turtles and does not accept other orphaned and/or injured wildlife. Other injured wildlife such as birds, freshwater turtles, tortoises, raccoons, skunks, etc., should be taken to the nearest wildlife hospital.

Found a Sea Turtle?

The Boca Raton Sea Turtle Conservation Program responds to reports of dead or injured sea turtles in southern Palm Beach County.  Data such as species, size, and the condition of the turtle, are recorded on a standardized data sheet that is submitted to the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network, which is coordinated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

Gumbo Limbo Nature Center’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Facility operates a
24-Hour Sea Turtle Rescue Hotline: 561-212-8691.

If you ever encounter an injured sea turtle or other injured wildlife, please contact Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Wildlife Hotline immediately at: 1-888-404-FWCC (3922).  You may also dial *FWC or #FWC on your mobile phone.

Please be prepared to answer the following questions:

  1. What is the exact location of the animal?
  2. Is the turtle alive or dead?
  3. What is the approximate size of the turtle?
  4. Is the turtle marked with spray paint?
  5. What is the location of the closest access point to the turtle?
Gumbo Limbo staff measuring a Sea Turtle on the beach

Found a Hatchling?

Daytime

If you see a hatchling on the beach during the day:

  1. Do not put it in the water.
  2. Place it in a container with damp sand (not water) on the bottom.
  3. Bring them to Gumbo Limbo Nature Center and place them in the cooler labeled “Hatchling Drop-off” located outside the front door. The drop-off box is checked by staff frequently.

At night or after hours

These turtles probably just hatched out of their nest!

  1. Allow them to crawl to the ocean on their own.
  2. If hatchlings are injured or do not crawl into the water on their own, place them in a container with damp sand (not water) on the bottom.
  3. Bring them to Gumbo Limbo Nature Center and place them in the cooler labeled “Hatchling Drop-off” located outside the front doors of the center.  The drop-off box is checked by staff frequently.
Hatchling drop box at Gumbo Limbo