Sea turtle stranded in Virginia Beach sickened by litter

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Kermit, a green sea turtle rescued from the surf in Virginia Beach, was sickened by eating trash. (Contributed photo from Virginia Aquarium.)

By Jim Washington
The Virginian-Pilot
© October 16, 2008

VIRGINIA BEACH

A green sea turtle dubbed Kermit, rescued from the surf in Sandbridge by a swimmer last month, is being treated for obstructions in his throat including a rubber band, a balloon, pieces of plastic and a Spanish language newspaper.

A swimmer found Kermit floating upside down in the water near Sandbrige on September 20. Since then the Virginia Aquarium has been treating the turtle, who was thin, lethargic and dehydrated.

Last week doctors at the Beach Pet Hospital found and removed a number of foreign objects from Kermit's throat, thought to be trash ingested at sea.

Doctors are monitoring Kermit's condition.

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