The following is Scott Fais' weekly blog detailing discoveries made while traveling through Florida and along the road of life.
Sitting between oceanfront real estate, whose architectural styles define what decade they were constructed, sits a timeless outpost not for residents, rather patients.
The Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach straddles US 1 and the Atlantic Ocean. The 9.8 miles of beach stretching from Jupiter Island to Palm Beach is considered to be one of the east coast's most densely populated areas to "lay an egg" if you're a sea turtle, according to David McClymont, the president of the center.
Nesting season started March 1 and runs through the end of October. And for those turtles who come out of the Atlantic and need an extra hand, The Loggerhead Marinelife Center stands ready to assist. The facility is one of the most state-of-the-art hospitals, between Orlando and the Keys.
"All of the sea turtles that we have here are not residents," McClymont says. "They are all patients."
Last year alone, 215,000 human visitors stopped by to get a look at the turtles on display in the their "floating" beds. The tanks holding the turtles are accessible to the visiting public. Each pool is kept behind a safety railing, while windows on the sides of each unit allow the visitor to see who is swimming around inside.
"Our ultimate goal is to get these sea turtles rehabilitated and then back out into the ocean, which is their home," McClymont told me.
Everything from sharks, large fish, wayward fishing nets and other waterborne debris can injure a turtle in the sea. On land, raccoons, crabs and humans can harm future chances at a turtle's survival. In 2011, McClymont says research crews from the Loggerhead Marinelife Center registered 9,800 nests.
"All of our researchers are ramping up to begin sea turtle nesting season and we're hoping to have another successful season," McClymont shared.
His facility's outdoor area is joined by a modern indoor learning center where visitors can stroll along aquariums that have reconstructed Florida's different coastal ecosystems. One tank features smaller fish that live around the roots of mangroves. Another aquarium is home to a giant snail whose sense of hearing is so adept, when food is dropped in the aquarium, the large snail comes out of his shell and begins scouring the tank for his feast.
Bring a towel, your bathing suit and pack a lunch. Juno Beach is within walking distance. But leave nothing behind since sea turtles are sure to follow in your footsteps.
"Filling in your sand on the beach when you're done having sand castles," McClymont suggested.
Although there is no admission charge, a donation is appreciated.
"We do encourage people to make a suggested five dollar donation when they do walk in. All of that money goes to support all of the work that we do with our education, research and rehabilitation," McClymont concluded.
The Loggerhead Marinelife Center is a great value and a great opportunity to learn in our own backyard.
Until next time, Safe Travels,
SCOTT
To read a text version of the Tankful story as it first aired on television, click here.