64 sea turtle hatchlings rescued from Florida pool

In Islamorada, Florida, a family discovered 64 baby sea turtles swimming in their backyard pool. The hatchlings were reportedly disoriented by artificial lights, which led them away from the ocean and toward the home.

The homeowners contacted The Turtle Hospital, where the hatchlings were cleaned, provided with fluids, and given swimming assessments. After several days of care, all 64 turtles were healthy enough to be released into the Gulf Stream.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) notes that artificial lighting can cause thousands of hatchling deaths annually by interfering with their instinct to move toward the brightest horizon, which is naturally the ocean sky. Islamorada maintains specific lighting regulations to mitigate these risks to nesting turtles.