Timmy the Larger-than-Life Loggerhead Returns to Sea in Key West

A 270-pound loggerhead sea turtle named Timmy returned to the Atlantic Ocean on August 14 after several weeks of rehabilitation at The Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Florida. Timmy was rescued on July 19 after boaters spotted her struggling to stay afloat south of Sugarloaf Key. With help from the U.S. Coast Guard, she was transported to the hospital, where she received treatment and gradually regained her strength before successfully demonstrating that she was ready to return to the wild.

Timmy’s recovery is especially significant because she is estimated to be between 70 and 80 years old and is still an actively nesting female, having already laid three nests during the 2026 season. Hundreds gathered at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park in Key West to watch her return to the ocean—a fitting end to a remarkable rescue story and a reminder of the importance of protecting and rehabilitating sea turtles for future generations.

Read the full article on the WGCU News.

Image by Sylke Rohrlach from Sydney, CC BY-SA 2.0