Sea Turtle, Inc

Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, we will not hold any public hatchling releases for the 2020 nesting season. This decision was taken to protect the health and safety of our staff, volunteers, and community.

ALERT After careful consideration, we have made the decision to close Sea Turtle, Inc. to public guests at this time. No public hatchling releases will be held during the 2020 Nesting season. We continue to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic with the ongoing commitment to the health and well being of our guests, staff, volunteers and animals. Please check our website and social media platforms for when we will resume our public operations.

A Message From The Executive Director

At Sea Turtle, Inc. our mission is to educate the public, rehabilitate injured turtles, and lead with conservation efforts.

Our core missions

Education

Rehabilitation

Conservation

2019 mission Achievements

Outreach Events

Turtles Rehabilitated & Released

Hatchlings Protected & Released

Visitors Educated

Meet Allison, the turtle with a prosthetic fin

Allison survived a predator attack in 2005 with only one flipper remaining. For years, Allison could only swim in circles. In 2009, a Sea Turtle, Inc. intern designed a prosthetic device to help Allison swim!

It was the first successful sea turtle prosthetic in the world. Since then, we have gone through several prosthetics, each one improving on the last. Allison has been featured in People Magazine, Discovery Channel, and The Today Show.

the maralyne hoenes memorial

Sea Turtle, Inc. (STI) lost one of its biggest supporters on April 5th, 2020. Since moving down to South Padre Island to enjoy her retirement in 2010, Maralyne spent countless hours volunteering at STI. She enjoyed being Allison’s lifeguard where she could watch her favorite turtle get her second chance at life. Sea Turtle, Inc. will miss her dearly and we will strive to continue doing the good work that Maralyne loved and supported so much.

Donation Options:

Mail –> Checks can be made payable to Sea Turtle, Inc. and may be mailed to P.O. Box 3987 South Padre Island, Texas 78597

Online–> Donate button can be found below

Symbolic Sea Turtle Adoption–> Adopt Here

Meet Ila, The Turtle Lady

Ila Fox Loetscher is the sole founder of Sea Turtle, Inc. She was originally from Iowa. Prior to her fame as “The Turtle Lady of South Padre”, Ila was well known as a pilot. She was the first licensed female pilot in both Iowa and Illinois! She was a contemporary and frequent correspondent of Amelia Earhart as well as one of the original “99’s” (a support group of women pilots organized in 1929).

By 1977, Ila was receiving so many guests into her home that she formed Sea Turtle, Inc. into the present non-profit. The all-volunteer organization assisted her in education and rehab work with the sea turtles.