CROW Gets $1.2M Grant To Rebuild Hurricane-Damaged Sea Turtle Complex

A $1.2 million grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will help build a new sea turtle complex at Sanibel Island's wildlife clinic. The money will help rebuild essential care facilities that Hurricane Ian destroyed in 2022.

The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) is the only licensed facility treating injured sea turtles on Florida's Gulf Coast between Sarasota and the Keys. Building will begin this year, and they plan to open by the end of 2025.

“Rebuilding CROW's Sea Turtle Complex is not just about restoring a facility — it's about providing a safe haven for sea turtles in need of care and rehabilitation,” said Dr. Jessica Comolli, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACZM, research and medical director at CROW, told Gulf Coast News Now.

The new building will honor Bill and Laurie Harkey's commitment to marine life by carrying their name.