Kathy.....Large Live Loggerhead

Kathy was found by Horry County Sanitation workers early on November 1st, laying on the beach just above the high tide line in front of the Hilton, Kingston Plantation, in the unincorporated section of Horry County, just north of the Apache Pier.  SC DNR was quickly notified, SC DNR called NMB STP to investigate and transport to SC Sea Turtle Care Center in Charleston.

Kathy was a very emaciated, lethargic loggerhead, weighing 123 pounds.   Kathy was covered with puff mud and barnacles.  She also had a significant amount of leeches on her eyelids, snares and soft tissue around neck, flippers and inside of her mouth.  She also was found to have an old, healed boat strike wound on her carapace.   Kathy's rear flipper may have been affected by this boat strike, she has very little movement in them.  A December 1st CT Scan showed no severe damage to her spine.

Kathy also defecated two pieces of plastic........

A very sick turtle.......

 A HUGE thanks to Horry County Sanitation and Horry County Police for reporting this turtle.