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Sea Turtle Team Saddened by Death of Loggerhead Known as ‘Pat Benatar’
On May 27, just after Memorial Day weekend, SCCF’s turtle team responded to a report of a deceased loggerhead sea turtle that had washed ashore on Captiva Island. The turtle had injuries consistent with blunt force trauma caused by a vessel strike.
“Sadly, when we examined the turtle, we discovered she had flipper tags and a microchip. Further investigation revealed she was one of our own nesting females — a loggerhead we had tagged on Sanibel and had observed nesting just 15 days earlier,” said Sea Turtle Biologist Savannah Weber.
This turtle was first documented by our night-tagging team in May 2023. That season’s naming theme honored famous female singers, and she was given the name “Pat Benatar” because of her small size and spunky attitude.
Pat quickly became a familiar face that season, as she was encountered eight times, making her one of the most frequently encountered turtles of 2023.
The team was thrilled to see her return this year on May 12 when they encountered her as she laid what would become her final known nest.
“As we watched her lay her eggs and make her way back to the ocean, I thought to myself, ‘Bye Pat, I hope to see you again when you come back to lay another nest.’ Sadly, the next time I saw her, she had washed ashore deceased, with severe injuries consistent with a vessel strike,” said Weber.
For the team members who spend long nights on the beach, these turtles become more than data points.
“We watch them return year after year, witness their nesting journeys, and celebrate their contributions to future generations. Losing one is always difficult,” added Weber.
Pat Benatar’s Legacy: Importance of Responsible Boating
Pat’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of responsible boating. Sea turtles must surface regularly to breathe, making them vulnerable to vessel strikes in our coastal waters.
Boaters can help protect sea turtles by obeying reduced-speed and no-wake zones, wearing polarized sunglasses to improve visibility, staying alert for wildlife at the surface, and assigning a dedicated spotter whenever possible.
Although Pat’s life ended too soon, she was able to lay at least one nest this season before her passing.
The team has been carefully monitoring that nest and hopes it will produce healthy hatchlings later this summer. In that way, Pat’s legacy lives on — not only through the data she provided during her years on our beaches, but through the next generation of sea turtles she helped bring into the world.
Please call our Sea Turtle Hotline at 978-728-3663 to report any issues with nests, nesting turtles, or hatchlings.