Sea Turtle Rescues Along the Texas Coast
Airboating Magazine|March - April 2023
While most of you were opening presents on Christmas Day, we had the fun of rescuing stunned sea turtles up and down the Texas Coast.
Captain Jeff Larson
Sea Turtle Rescues Along the Texas Coast

We worked alongside the Mid-Coast Sea Turtle Rescue Response Team (https://midcoast-tmn.org/turtle-rescuerecovery/).

Mother Nature was pushing her cold breath down our necks for days leading into the Christmas season. Christmas day and the days after were a critical time for the federally protected mammals. Sea turtles are cold-blooded, meaning that they cannot regulate their body temperature. As water temperatures decrease, so do sea turtle's body temperatures. When the water temperature drops to a critical point, sea turtles become lethargic, float to the surface, and often wash ashore. If they are not rescued and warmed up, they can die from hypothermia.

In 2021, there was the largest sea turtle rescue ever during a winter freeze, where around 5,000 sea turtles were rescued from freezing in Texas.

Volunteer properly handling turtle and removing from the freezing waters and transferring into the boat, so they could be transported to rehabilitation centers.

Along the Middle and Lower Texas Coast we really need to -pay attention to the lower-than-normal tides. Airboats are the most advantageous and critical pieces of machinery a rescuer can have to get close to the turtles. These vessels are worth their weight in gold when you can position your airboat right next to a 100-pounder. The little turtles are so cute, and everyone wants them for pets, but you cannot, because of the strict laws protecting them.

There is a program and class you must attend to be on the “permit to handle wild sea turtles” list. Years past, when some of us went out to rescue sea turtles, we handled them the best we knew how, piling in a ton of them in my bay boat. Big no-no. None the less, they were saved.

Denne historien er fra March - April 2023-utgaven av Airboating Magazine.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra March - April 2023-utgaven av Airboating Magazine.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA AIRBOATING MAGAZINESe alt
Osceola Airboat Association Lake Clean-Up
Airboating Magazine

Osceola Airboat Association Lake Clean-Up

Osceola Airboat Association cleaned up Lake Cypress on March 16, 2014. Club volunteers also did some repairs to the Dead River Pavilion.

time-read
1 min  |
May - June 2024
PLASH Waterproof LED Flexible Light Strips
Airboating Magazine

PLASH Waterproof LED Flexible Light Strips

PlashⓇ waterproof flexible strip lights are the perfect accent to your air boat and other vehicles. Choose from a variety of light styles and color options.

time-read
1 min  |
May - June 2024
Seminole County Airboat Club Frog Gig Tournament
Airboating Magazine

Seminole County Airboat Club Frog Gig Tournament

Seminole County Airboat Club had one amazing turnout for the first frog gig tournament on March 15, 2014, at Jolly Gator Fish Camp in Geneva, Florida.

time-read
1 min  |
May - June 2024
Lake Okeechobee Airboat Association's Providing Hunting Opportunities to Florida Youth
Airboating Magazine

Lake Okeechobee Airboat Association's Providing Hunting Opportunities to Florida Youth

We did a total of four youth hunts this season and hope to do a few more. We encourage the kids to register to be part of the Youth Hunting Program of Florida.

time-read
1 min  |
May - June 2024
Torrey Island BBQ Competition & Airboat Show
Airboating Magazine

Torrey Island BBQ Competition & Airboat Show

The Torrey Island, Belle Glade, South Florida, BBQ Showdown and Airboat show was a big success and raised more than $61,000 for the Everglades Society for Historic Preservation (ESHP), a Florida 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.

time-read
2 mins  |
May - June 2024
The Mckenzie Family Special Airboat
Airboating Magazine

The Mckenzie Family Special Airboat

We have a 13-year old daughter (Kalyn) who was born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, and clinical autism. Our youngest son (Colton, 9 yrs old) has non verbal autism.

time-read
1 min  |
May - June 2024
Airboat Association of Florida St. Patrick's Day Corned Beef & Cabbage Poker Run
Airboating Magazine

Airboat Association of Florida St. Patrick's Day Corned Beef & Cabbage Poker Run

The Airboat Association of Florida kicked off its “Annual Corned Beef & Cabbage Poker Run” Sat., March 16, 2024. It was a bright and sunny day with lots of festivities for the family. An unforgettable time was had by all.

time-read
1 min  |
May - June 2024
Airboaters for Autism Awareness 2024 Light It Up Blue
Airboating Magazine

Airboaters for Autism Awareness 2024 Light It Up Blue

“It is crazy to watch how this has grown over the years. We have given out close to $100,000 across the State of Florida for Autism programs.” shared Reilly Pelkey. The 2024 Light it Up Blue to promote autism awareness was held on April 6 at the Guy Harvey Camp Mack Resort in Kissimmee, Florida.

time-read
1 min  |
May - June 2024
Airboat History-Airboats for Military Use
Airboating Magazine

Airboat History-Airboats for Military Use

The earliest use of an air-driven boat was in Mesopotamia (present day Iraq). In World War I, the British military enlisted the Farman Aircraft Company in France to build boats that could traverse the vast marshland of Mesopotamia as they fought the Ottoman Empire to protect British interest in the oil fields near Basra.

time-read
2 mins  |
May - June 2024
Photographing Birds of Prey
Airboating Magazine

Photographing Birds of Prey

Ruggeri aka “Airboat Photographer,” has been a master captain airboat operator for Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures in Central Florida, conducting eco tours.

time-read
3 mins  |
May - June 2024