OCEAN CITY, Md. - Two endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles returned to the Atlantic Ocean this week after completing months of rehabilitation at the National Aquarium in Baltimore. The turtles, named Mothman and Icky, were released on the beach in Ocean City that drew a crowd of beachgoers and animal lovers.
Icky, short for Ichthyocentaur, was rescued in Massachusetts in November 2024 and initially treated at the New England Aquarium before being transferred to Baltimore. Mothman was rescued locally from Bear Creek in Dundalk, Maryland.
Both turtles suffered from cold stunning, a dangerous condition caused by sudden drops in water temperature, and injuries consistent with boat strikes. “Unfortunately, a lot of the injuries that we see are human related,” said Caitlin Bovery, rehabilitation manager at the National Aquarium. “They could be entangled in fishing gear, hit by boats, or impacted by plastic or marine debris.”
Among those watching the release was Elise Maxwell, who helped save Mothman.
Among those watching the release was Elise Maxwell, who helped save Mothman. Maxwell said she drove three hours to see the turtle’s journey come full circle. “We pulled him out of the water, and I was like, he's not staying out here,” Maxwell said. “So I walked him in and tried to bring his temperature up a little bit—it was the second week of December. One of my coworkers then called DNR, who then called the aquarium.”
Icky wasted no time returning to the sea, swimming off quickly.
After more than six months of care, both turtles were cleared for release. Icky wasted no time returning to the sea, swimming off quickly. Mothman paused near the shoreline, soaking in the moment before joining Icky in the surf.
“It was the coolest thing I’m probably ever going to do,” Maxwell said. “It was really, really awesome. And it was a full-circle moment for me.”
With Icky and Mothman back in their natural habitat, the National Aquarium hopes their story will inspire more awareness and care for marine life impacted by human activity.