Briar was found on the extreme northern section of Cherry Grove Beach early in the morning on June 8, 2016. She was stranded on a large sandbar in a shallow tide pool. But tide was coming in and the sandbar was quickly disappearing. NMB Beach Patrol was asked by NMB STP for help and they quickly responded and were able to get the large, 155 pound turtle off the beach and into a car for transport. Once at the Sea Turtle Hospital in Charleston, it was quickly confirmed that this was a turtle of first.....first time a returning patient, first time same transporter brought the turtle in 2 times, first turtle to have cataract surgery..... Briar, the rock star was returned to the hospital. Briar had first stranded in late May of 2013, suffering from DTS and found to have cataracts in both eyes. Briar underwent surgery in 2014 and was released in the summer of 2014.
This time she was found less than 13 miles from her first stranding, even though she had been released over 100 miles south. But her injuries were severe, suffering from an old boat strike which slowed her down to the point she just couldn't fight currents any more. It was apparent she had been thriving in the ocean, eating typical loggerhead food, hard shell prey until her run in with a boat.
11 months later, Briar was ready to be released for the second time, weighing in at over 200 pounds.... On May 4, in a private release on the Isle of Palm, Briar went home......again......
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