Rescued green sea turtle Lily J returns to Key West waters

A juvenile green sea turtle that could not dive and kept bobbing to the surface is back in Key West waters after a February rescue near Truman Waterfront Park set off a response that drew in a local resident, the Turtle Hospital and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Stephanie Wise and her partner were walking near Truman Waterfront Park when they spotted the young turtle struggling in the water. Wise said the turtle looked unable to dive properly and kept coming back up, a warning sign that turned a casual beachside walk into a rescue call. Wise contacted the Turtle Hospital, and because the turtle was in protected waters, the Coast Guard also responded.

The turtle, Lily J, had suffered a severe propeller strike and buoyancy problems that made it impossible for her to survive on her own. She was transported to the Turtle Hospital in Marathon, where staff provided the specialized care needed to help her heal. By May 23, World Turtle Day, Lily J was ready to return to the ocean at Higgs Beach in Key West.

The release connected a local rescue to a wider conservation message. The Turtle Hospital is described in reporting as the world’s first state-licensed veterinary hospital dedicated solely to sea turtles, and it has rehabilitated and released more than 1,500 turtles while treating dozens at a time. Bette Zirkelbach, the hospital’s general manager, said every day is turtle day at the facility, but Lily J’s return made the observance especially meaningful.

World Turtle Day, observed on May 23, was launched in 2000 by American Tortoise Rescue, the organization founded in 1990 by Susan Tellem and Marshall Thompson. The timing matters in Monroe County, where boat traffic, shallow habitat and sea turtles share the same water. NOAA Fisheries says green turtles are listed under the Endangered Species Act in 11 distinct population segments, with three endangered and eight threatened, and NOAA says vessel strikes are a known threat to sea turtles in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

Florida State University has also noted that boat-strike risk rises as summer boating season approaches, making Lily J’s rescue a timely reminder for Keys residents and visitors. Wise described the moment as deeply personal and one she will never forget. For beachgoers who spot a turtle that looks stranded or injured, her call to the Turtle Hospital set the model: get help quickly, and let trained responders take it from there.