Note: it is illegal to handle sea turtles due to their endangered status. The activities performed in the rescue were performed under Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) permit MTP-25-024. If you are on the water and spot a sea turtle in distress, please call FWC at 1-888-404-3922.

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

I had just arrived in Miami on an overnight flight from a long weekend in California. As soon as I landed, I hopped in my car and drove south on the Turnpike, heading for Biscayne National Park. Running on almost no sleep and a Wawa breakfast burrito, I was ready for an event that was in the making for seven months-the release of a recently rehabilitated green sea turtle that my colleagues and I rescued last summer, found entangled in the buoy line of a derelict blue crab trap.

Flashback to Monday, July 15, 2025

As part of a three-day, multi-agency effort, myself, Biscayne National park, staff, interns and volunteers, Miami-Dade County DERM employees, and two employees funded by the National TRAP program worked in three teams, strategically removing derelict fishing traps during the ten day period during which all three trap fisheries (blue crab, stone crab, spiny lobster) are closed. In this time period, anyone carrying an FWC derelict trap permit may remove traps.

It was the end of the day, it had become overcast and started drizzling, when we came across a string of traps in Biscayne Bay near the Deering Estate. We removed the first two but as we approached the third, we immediately noticed something odd—the buoy was moving around in circles. We realized that there was a juvenile turtle entangled in the line. One of the team members had been filming the trap removal operations, so we have this discovery on video. We quickly mobilized and since I had experience with turtle stranding and rescue, I decided to get into the water and assess the situation. Fortunately, the turtle was able to breathe but was visibly stressed, so I asked my DERM colleague to get in and assist me.

The rescue

We were able to safely approach the turtle, with me holding it by its carapace, and John from DERM working on the buoy line. Once the buoy line had been successfully removed, he determined that the turtle had another injury and should be taken in for treatment. We were jokingly calling it “Willow,” for one of the crew on board, but since we used a 55-gallon trash can to bring it out of the water and onto the boat, we then added on “Oscar.” Once we were all back on board, I called the Park biologist and FWC to await instructions for Willow Oscar’s care. The Zoo Miami Turtle Hospital came to pick up Willow Oscar, who had braided fishing line wrapped around the entangled flipper, as well as multiple Fibropapillomatosis (FP) tumors on its body.  Willow Oscar was transported and began a series of treatments that would take up the next few months of its life.

The Zoo Miami technician who picked up Willow Oscar patiently answered my follow-up questions. She explained the evaluation that Willow Oscar would undergo and graciously kept me updated on its progress. Since the Zoo had an ice cream theme for turtle names last year, they named it “Fudge.” I kept all three names, Willow Oscar Fudge (WOF). The Zoo began treatment for the FP growths, which involves an internal CT scan to determine whether or not WOF had internal tumors. It was through this CT scan that the Zoo confirmed that WOF was in fact a male sub-adult turtle, estimated to be 7-9 years old. WOF ultimately had five surgeries to remove the FP tumors and allow for recovery and healing. After seven months, WOF was ready to be released, and the best part—we were able to release him by boat, back into the waters of Biscayne National Park where he had initially been found.

Tuesday, February 17, 2026 

Once the Zoo Miami staff arrived with WOF, we loaded up the RM 27, my beloved Park Service Boston Whaler. With my colleague Vanessa McDonough at the helm, we made our way to north Biscayne Bay, to release WOF in an area with abundant seagrass habitat. Almost the entire original rescue team were present. Along the way, we photographed and reminisced of the day that we found Willow Oscar Fudge. I don’t know if he understood what was happening, but he was moving about in his little tray, as though he was ready to start swimming. Once anchored, I was permitted to be in the water so that I could capture video of the big moment. Making sure I adhered to the Zoo staff’s instructions, I stayed off to the side as to not be in WOF’s swim path. Julie and Stephanie brought him through the dive door, lowering him gently into the water. To our delight, he began swimming immediately and after about a minute, disappeared into the green water.

A happy ending

To have WOF’s release occur in the waters where we found him was truly a full circle experience. After his rescue when we waited to hear about his FP status, my thinking was that at least we saved him from either starvation or drowning from being entangled in the trap buoy line. Thanks to the incredible care from the Zoo Miami Turtle Hospital, not only was WOF’s injured flipper treated and, on the mend, but now, he has re-entered his world, tumor-free, and will hopefully continue to live a good, long life. We were at the right place at the right time that day, and between all of our collective skills, were able to safely rescue and save him from an awful fate.

Derelict traps pose risks to all types of wildlife: turtles, manatees, fish, crabs, lobster, and other invertebrates. As with other fishing regulations, it’s vital to follow to abide by the requirements set forth by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Traps can become lost or derelict for a number of reasons. Should you lose your trap, please access the FWC form for blue crabs, spiny lobster or stone crabs, complete and email to cleanuptraps@myfwc.com.

Note: it is illegal to tamper with any fishing trap, whether live or believed to be derelict.

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