Two loggerhead sea turtles who were suspected of having red tide toxicity were released back into the water on Wednesday following rehabilitation. Grimm and Monique made their way back into the Gulf at Lido Beach, with Grimm being lowered into the waves by Mote staff and Monique crawling into the surf from the beach. Grimm was rescued on Feb. 16 when he was found floating in Sanibel, and Monique was found on March 6 washed ashore by South Siesta Key. “Watching these turtles return to the Gulf is the most rewarding part of what we do,” Lynne Byrd, Mote's rehabilitation and medical care manager, said. “Monique and Grimm’s journeys remind us why this work matters— because every turtle released is another step toward a healthier ocean.” Both turtles were sent off with a Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tag, a device similar to a pet microchip that will help researchers track their behavior in the future. Mote's hospital has admitted over 950 sick and injured turtles since 1995 and has treated all five species found in the Gulf. Anyone who sees a stranded or dead sea turtle, dolphin or whale should call Mote's Stranding Investigations Program, a 24-hour response service, at (888) 345-2335. Anyone who sees a stranded or dead manatee anywhere in state waters or a stranded or dead sea turtle, dolphin, or whale outside of Sarasota or Manatee counties, should call the FWC Wildlife Alert hotline at 1 (888) 404-FWCC (3922).