![A rehabilitated loggerhead sea turtle makes its way May 1 to the waters of the Atlantic Ocean at Fort Macon State Park. Photo: Dylan Ray](https://coastalreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/LOGGERHEAD-CRAWL.jpg)
Ten loggerhead sea turtles touched down at Michael J. Smith Field in Beaufort Monday, May 1, ahead of their release back into the Atlantic Ocean.
The loggerheads were rehabilitating at the Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri, after being cold-stunned in early January near Cape Cod. The New England Aquarium in Boston transported the turtles to the nonprofit aquarium in Missouri.
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“It’s not often we have loggerheads in Missouri,” Wonders of Wildlife Director of Animal Care Mike Daniel said.
![Pilot Carl Natter, unloads the cargo of rehabilitated cold-stunned loggerheads May 1 from a Turtles Fly Too flight from the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri, to Beaufort ahead of their release into the Atlantic Ocean. Photo: Dylan Ray](https://coastalreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/PILOT-UNLOAD.jpg)
A private company named Turtles Fly Too transported the loggerheads from Boston to Springfield and then from Springfield to Beaufort. Upon arriving at Smith Field, turtle biologist Matthew Godfrey with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission organized the offloading and transport to Fort Macon State Park in Atlantic BEach with the assistance of Wonders of Wildlife aquarists Holly Blackwood and Jacquelyn Denney.
“We are super excited to help out with the rehabilitation,” Blackwood said. “We have 30-foot-long tanks at our aquarium that can accommodate these larger sea turtles.”
![A loggerhead waits on the tarmac at Michael J. Smith Field in Beaufort after a flight from the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri. Photo: Dylan Ray](https://coastalreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/READY-FOR-TRANSPORT.jpg)
After a few minutes’ ride across the three bridges linking Beaufort, Morehead City and and Atlantic Beach, the loggerheads arrived at Fort Macon State Park at the eastern end of Bogue Banks. There, Ranger Ben Fleming led the procession of off-road-vehicles down to the shore for unloading and release.
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![Mike Daniel, left, Director of Animal Husbandry at Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium loads a Loggerhead sea turtle Monday for release back into the Atlantic Ocean. Photo: Dylan Ray](https://coastalreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/CRATE-TO-CAR.jpg)
The crates were placed on the sand, tags were removed and a last goodbye from staff and volunteers was given before the loggerheads hit the waves.
“It’s bittersweet,” aquarist Jaquelyn Denney said. “These guys have been with us for four months!”
![Fort Macon State Park Ranger Ben Fleming, center, carefully removes a tag from the flipper of a loggerhead May 1 before releasing the animal back into the Atlantic Ocean. Photo: Dylan Ray](https://coastalreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/RANGER-BEN-REMOVES-TAG.jpg)
As the loggerheads hit the sand they charged for the waves.
“It’s amazing how fast they move once they hit the water!” Blackwood said.
![Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium Aquarist Jaquelyn Denny, left, and Head Aquarist Holly Blackwood, center, prepare to release a group of rehabilitated loggerhead sea turtles May 1 at Fort Macon State Park. Photo: Dylan Ray](https://coastalreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/CAR-TO-BEACH.jpg)
A series of several feverish paddles and the loggerheads were headed out to the Atlantic Ocean.
“I started to cry when they went under the waves,” Blackwood said. “Now they are where they belong.”
![Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium Lead Aquarist Holly Blackwood takes a few final photographs of a loggerhead as it is released back into the Atlantic Ocean May 1 at Fort Macon State Park. Photo: Dylan Ray](https://coastalreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/TURTLE-TO-SEA.jpg)