Four rescued sea turtles head back to the ocean in Hampton Bays

The NY Marine Rescue Center in Riverhead is gearing up to send four rescued and rehabbed sea turtles back to the ocean.

A release party is planned for 6 p.m. Thursday at Tiana Beach in Hampton Bays.

(It is suggested that would-be onlookers arrive early.)

Three of the turtles were rescued last year during what’s called the cold-stun season in the late fall. Another turtle, affectionately named Black Bear, ended up stranded last summer and brought to Riverhead for rehabilitation.

Of the four, Black Bear, Koala and Newt are Kemp’s ridley turtles.

But there’s also a green turtle named Kiwi.

Two of the turtles, Kiwi and Black Bear, will be fitted with satellite tags so their post-release movements can be tracked by researchers, an announcement reads.

The turtles’ movements will also be viewable to the public on the website of the NY Marine Rescue Center, where you can currently track the movements of Queen, a female adult loggerhead turtle that became stranded on Ho Hum Beach on Fire Island in Bellport in 2021. She was rehabbed and later released, weighing almost 400 pounds at the time.

“The waters are warm and these sea turtles are ready to head back home!” the announcement reads.

“We hope to see you all there!”

The release begins promptly at 6 p.m., officials said.

Credit: The NY Marine Rescue Center