Florida firefighters rescue 14 baby sea turtles from storm drain

Firefighters from Bonita Springs Fire District rescued 14 sea turtle hatchlings from two storm drains near the Mediterra Beach Club on Bonita Beach.

Crews worked with Turtle Time Inc., a Florida state-permitted sea turtle conservation organization, to safely retrieve the turtles by hand.

All 14 hatchlings were released into the Gulf of Mexico after being trapped during their first journey to the ocean.

Hatchling disorientation due to artificial lighting from coastal development causes turtles to crawl inland and become trapped in storm drains.

Rescuing hatchlings is significant because sea turtles have low survival rates, and each rescued individual helps support future populations.