Loggerhead Turtles Released at West Dennis Beach

A loggerhead sea turtle

DENNIS – Two loggerhead sea turtles that stranded on Cape Cod beaches last winter were finally released back into the wild Tuesday at West Dennis Beach.

Named “Lightning Bolt” and “Sunny,” the juvenile turtles, weighing 50 and 70 pounds, were nursed back to the health at the New England Aquarium’s Animal Care Center in Quincy.

Aquarium spokesman Tony Lacasse said the loggerheads are the last of the turtles that washed up during last winter’s stranding season.

“The biggest problem with this batch of sea turtles was a very persistent pneumonia, which is very common. About half the turtles that strand on the Cape in the late fall have pneumonia,” said Lacasse.

Four more loggerheads will be released sometime in the next several weeks. Lacasse said those turtles will be outfitted with satellite tags.