Sea Turtle Triage Facility Coming To Orange Beach

A new facility in Orange Beach will help rehabilitate injured sea turtles, AL.com reports. The Orange Beach City Council is expected to amend the city’s agreement with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for the Coastal Alabama Sea Turtle Triage facility. The hope is that the new facility will help save as many sea turtles as possible. Currently, if an injured turtle is found, Orange Beach employees have to transport it to facilities in either Mississippi or Florida for treatment. When the turtle has recovered, it has to be transported back to Orange Beach. That travel is stressful for the turtle. With the new facility, staff will be able to treat some turtle injuries, like a flipper getting hooked. For turtles with larger injuries, marine veterinarians will be able to stabilize and evaluate the turtle before transport. The city awarded the bid for construction of the facility earlier this year. It will be funded through settlement funds from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Construction is to begin next year and be completed in summer 2026.