Swamp Girl Adventures Reptile Rehabilitation

08/21/2026

This Florida box turtle is much happier now!
Some of you may remember the box turtle with the swollen bulging eyes that came in a couple months ago, he is looking much different now.
I don't have a definite answer on what happened as some tests are still pending but it's suspected that he was sprayed with some type of lawn treatment causing inflammation and severe irritation. He is back home now and seemed very happy to be there!

08/16/2026

Its been a buys last few days! Lots of new patients!

You can help us by visiting our Amazon wish list to send us some items we need !

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/319ZLLKWT3FBF?ref_=wl_share

08/07/2026

I honestly have no words, the nomination was a surprise as it was then to also win volunteer of the year was an even bigger one.
The FWRI wildlife health team and the crocodilian research team are amazing hardworking people. I am honored to help push to get answers and strive to make a change for our wildlife. Team efforts are what makes the difference in this world. We must come together to support the science to uncover the mysteries and make necessary changes. Yes, volunteering means no pay but what we can accomplish together is priceless. It's not about the money but the lives we save along the way! From Turtle frasier virus, snake fungal disease, gopher tortoise diseases to bloated alligators there is still so much more we need to do and I am just getting started.
I thank everyone for your support, it's not easy to juggle everything that I do but it's a choice I have made to make a difference and I don't plan on quitting anytime soon 😉

🙌 Award Winner in the House! 🙌

Kim Titterington is an exceptional volunteer whose dedication, adaptability, and expertise have had a significant impact on wildlife research across Florida. Kim has played a key role in statewide turtle and tortoise health surveys, delivering high quality samples, assisting with disease investigations, and responding swiftly to demanding survey needs. Kim assists with captures, transport, necropsies, and data collection for both crocodilian research and wildlife health teams, often driving hours to support urgent fieldwork with a consistently positive attitude. Her involvement has been an immense support to understanding the bloated alligator syndrome, and emerging disease threats in gopher tortoises and her thoughtful input strengthens every project she joins. One colleague shared, “Kim improves the outcome of every plan we make. Her reliability and enthusiasm elevate our entire team.” Kim’s commitment, problem solving skills, and willingness to help with any species or task have expanded research capacity far beyond what staff alone could accomplish.
We deeply appreciate all you do, Kim!

07/30/2026

And this is Billy, the 3rd bloated alligator currently in care. The girls take their meds no problem but Billy, well, he is not as willing so I have to chase him around a bit to get him in just the right position to toss the meatball with the hidden meds in his mouth. A daily adventure for both of us! I really wish he would be a bit more fierce and open that mouth but he says nope 😆

07/27/2026

A collaboration with JPI Animal Health
This is Billy and you will hear more about him in the near future!

07/23/2026

We got 3 bloated gators in a very short span of time, Merlot came with a 8 ft male i will introduce at a later time. They came from 2 different south Florida locations but back to back.
Melot is about 5 ft and her bloat was only on one side which is a bit different from the other cases. On x rays she definitely had fecaliths. Her bodyweight was also better than most that we have seen making her a definite candidate for surgery. She has been doing well so far. Spent 10 days in temp hold after surgery and is now in a slightly bigger space with a full pool to continue her recovery. All the observations we make help us understand the bloated condition and if there is any chance of recovery. Thank you all for your continued support as we work with FWRI to help determine the cause.

07/19/2026

Priscilla is a alligator that came in about 2 months ago that was emaciated and bloated. She had surgery about a month ago to remove the fecaliths and has so far been doing very well. In this video I show how I prepare and administer medication for her. She needs to put on some serious bodyweight but she has been improving everyday!

07/18/2026

A large part of our intakes for care is not just the injured but also the sick! Yes, reptiles can get sick and we can just blindly attempt to treat or we can make sure we make the best decisions through diagnostic testing. It's not cheap but it also helps us understand what is affecting these animals and best treatment plans for each specific condition. Our biggest expenses each year are lab costs and most people don't realize what those costs per tortoise looks like, on average 500 per tortoise! On our donations page we do go over that breakdown to show where the money goes!
Thank you for your support to help us help them!💚🐢

07/07/2026

I don't always get to post about our resident animals. Loki is a blue rhino iguana. I rescued him from a home that was abandoned along with him in it. He was amongst trash and broken glass no food or water. This was back in 2011 and he was full grown, so we estimate he could be around 20 years old now. He is my boy and yes he gets a soft place to sleep because he deserves it. I always used older towels or blankets for his bed but I decided he should have his own designated new blanket and of course with dinosaurs!
Just wanted to share something positive and fun today 😊

06/30/2026

We get a fair amount of turtles and tortoises that someone collected from the wild as a baby then years later for various reasons give them up. For example learning of legalities, moving, poor health of the person or the animal etc.
They almost always have some sort of metabolic bone disease, deformity and or respiratory or shell infections. In this case she is mainly suffering from MBD causing deformity that is far more noticeable on x ray. Although there are a few subtle signs externally I always take x rays to see what we are really dealing with. This girl is now with another softshell that was in captivity for several years so they can get natural sun, eat wild foods and hopefully be returned to the wild if all goes as planned.
PLEASE DON'T TAKE WILDLIFE TO BE PETS! It's also illegal in the state of Florida. If you need help you can contact myself or a local rescue for resources in situations like this.