Rehabbed Loggerhead Released From Assateague

ASSATEAGUE — Just about a week after the first confirmed successful loggerhead hatching on Assateague sent about 100 baby sea turtles out to sea, a rehabbed juvenile loggerhead found floating in the Chesapeake Bay last fall was released from the barrier island on Thursday.

On Thursday morning, the joint efforts of several organizations and individuals culminated when an 86-pound juvenile loggerhead turtle named Bailey was returned safely to the sea from Assateague State Park after nearly a year of rehabilitation. Bailey was found floating in the Chesapeake last fall and was rescued by the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Program.

Bailey was treated for a severe lung infection by Sea Turtle Recovery, a non-profit sea turtle hospital in New Jersey. After months of successful rehabilitation, Bailey was released from the beach at Assateague on Thursday morning by Sea Turtle Recovery with the help of staffers from the National Aquarium in Baltimore.

“Bailey truly had a group effort to ensure his full recovery and release and we are very thankful for such an amazing network of rehabilitation facilities and the staff at Assateague State Park,” said Sea Turtle Recovery Co-Executive Director Brandi Biehl.

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