Turtle adoptions support our students, volunteers and educational programs like Turtle Watch, at Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge. Read more here
Green Turtles for 2023 (Click on each name to see the nesting summary).
Eva Lani – Adopted by Gini Holeman for her littlest granddaughter. Eva Lani nested for the first time on 5 April. Tag: SP038.
Poz – Adopted by Dee and Clayton Berlinghoff for their sons, Eric and Adam Berlinghoff. Poz is their yellow lab 🐕 Poz was found nesting on 6 May. Tag: FFG181.
Mama Dave – Adopted by Robyn Case for Dave Klosterman. Mama Dave was first seen in 2023 on morning patrol on 1 August. She was originally tagged in 2020. Tag: KKX003.
Janet – Adopted by Dee and Clayton Berlinghoff for their sons, Eric and Adam Berlinghoff. Janet is their grandmother. Janet was first seen on 8 August and was first tagged in 2006. Tag: MK145.
Dolly – Adopted by Dee and Clayton Berlinghoff for their sons, Eric and Adam Berlinghoff. Dolly is their other grandmother 💕Dolly was first seen on 8 August, and was first tagged in 2006! Tag: PPQ256.
Crystal – Adopted by Yvonne Knight for her grandson, Beckham. Crystal nested for the first time on 8 August and was given her tags. Tag: FFG007.
Dave L – Adopted by the Mangum family and named after great-grandpa Dave. Dave L was first seen on 8 August. Tag: KKX037.
QTPA2T – Adopted by Douglas, for Heather in 2023. QTPA2T nested in 2025 on 30 September. Tag: BBQ878.
Fabio – Adopted by Ashley Fabio in support of Sunset Watch. Fabio nested for the first time on 9 August. Tag: FFG029.
Baba – Adopted by Karen Rike for little Oscar! Oscar says this a lot, for grandma 😉Baba nested on 10 August. Tag: FFG070.
Olivia – Olivia was adopted by Karen Rike for her granddaughter. Olivia first nested on 10 August. Tag: FFG017.
Trisha – Adopted and named by volunteer Trish Scott. Trisha nested on 12 August. Tag: FFG073.
Alice – Alice was adopted and named by Sunset Watch volunteer Trish Scott. Alice appeared on 16 August. Tag: SP009.
Janjay – Adopted and named by Joan Keenan, Janjay nested on 15 August. Tag: KKX115.
Mickey – Mickey was adopted and named by Keisha Scott. This turtle nested on 23 August. Tag: KKX197.
Savannah – Adopted and named by Susan Wills, Savannah nested first on 10 August. Tag: FFG051.
Journey – Adopted by Tamar Seaman for her husband, for their anniversary. ❤️ Journey nested on 23 August. Tag: KKX030.
Mackay – Mackay was adopted and named by Claudia L. in honor of Amy’s brother, Douglas. Amy M. started the Turtle Watch Program at Sandy Point and has a long history of working with St. Croix’s sea turtles! Mackay first nested on 26 August. Tag: FFL939.
Bubbles Up – This turtle was adopted in memory of Jimmy Clarkin by Sally Almekinders. The name was chosen by Kathy Clarkin as a tribute to her husband Jimmy, who was often mistaken on St. Croix for Jimmy Buffett (who wrote Bubbles Up). This special turtle first nested on 26 August. Tag: FFG056.
Angel – Angel was adopted and named by Norm Forgey. She first nested on 27 August. Tag: FFL990.
Lana – This turtle was adopted and named by Caresse Hansen. Lana nested for the first time on 9 August. Tag: BBQ924.
Luna Gita Oceana – Adopted for Sharon by Anja & Sue. Luna Gita nested for the first time on 10 August. Tag: FFG001.
Bella – Adopted and named by Ligia and Stella, in honor of Bella. Bella nested for the first time on 21 August. Tag: FFG005.
Bamboo – Adopted and named by Jane Koca, Bamboo nested first on 1 September. Tag: KKX006.
Lana’s turtle – Adopted by Mathias for a very special girl, Lana. Tag: MK139.
Hawksbill Turtles for 2023 (Click on each name to see the nesting summary)
Adopt a hawksbill. Read more here.
Terre – Adopted for volunteer Terre Banks by her family. Terre nested on 8 August. Tag: FFG061.
Lolee – Adopted and named by Sharla Hartman. Lolee first nested on 20 May. Tag: KKX016.
Penny – Penny was adopted and named by Rachele Grassi. Penny nested for the first time this year on 12 August. Tag: BBQ837.
Miss B – Adopted and named by Beth Runkle, from Casa de Vista. Miss B first nested on 20 August. Tag: FFG147.
Gyuri – Adopted and named by Tutah Greenaway for George Lepes. Gyuri first nested on 23 August. Tag: FFG095.
Lissa – This turtle was adopted and named by Darren Tidwell for his wife Melissa. Lissa nested on 30 August. Tag: FFL975.
Ellie – Ellie was adopted and named by Sharla Hartman. She first nested, and got her tags on 1 September. Tag: FFL955.
Sandy – Adopted for Hattie by Jeanne Giles. Hattie named her turtle Sandy ❤️ Sandy nested for the first time on 15 September. Tag: FFG201.
Bacon – Adopted and named by Jane Koca, Bacon made an appearance on 29 September. Tag: FFG003.
Leatherback Turtles for 2023 (Click on each name to see the nesting summary).
Nathalie – Our first leatherback of 2023, Nathalie was adopted in 2018 and has been sponsored every year since by Avril Amato. She nested for the first time this year on 4 April. Tag: SPP402.
Snickers – Adopted by Louisa Porter in 2021, we saw Snickers three times this year. She first nested on 12 April. Tag: SPP288.
Adrienne – Adopted and named by Ellen and Tony Drago for their daughter. Adrienne appeared on 4 May. Tag: XXZ169.
Rita Hayworth – Named by Lisa Rau, in a nod to the Shawshank Redemption movie – Rita was on the poster in Andy’s cell, for those who know😉 Lisa was the grand prize winner in our leatherback contest in 2022 (guess the correct beach and date of the first leatherback nest)! Rita first nested on 18 May. Tag: AAV636.
The St. Croix Sea Turtle Project is sponsored by The Ocean Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, in cooperation with US Fish and Wildlife Service at Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge, St. Croix, US Virgin Islands.