Editor’s Note: The Florida softshell turtle is part of the CROW CAW (Case A Week) series, which tells the stories of the patients at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife on Sanibel Island, the dangers they face, and how we can help protect all of our wildlife. Read previous cases here.
A Florida softshell turtle (25-4638) arrived at The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife with a severe case of “road rash.”
She was found along I-75 with wounds and abrasions along her carapace (upper shell) and plastron (lower shell), so the hospital team suspected that she was hit by a car.
Luckily, this turtle had no fractures to its limbs or shell, which are common among victims of car strikes. The CROW staff cleaned and flushed the wounds, then dressed them with antimicrobial ointment to promote healing.
Females Florida softshell turtles are much larger than males, and they can weigh over 40 pounds. At about 22 pounds, this patient may be the largest softshell turtle that CROW has admitted in 2025, but she’s still on the lighter side for her species.
As their name suggests, Florida softshell turtles have unique shells that can make it tricky to apply bandages or adhesives. They lack the hard, scale-like “scutes” of other Chelonia (turtle and tortoise species) and instead have a smooth, leathery layer of skin over the bony shell, similar to that of a leatherback sea turtle.
Their feet are webbed, and they have a long, tubular nose that they use like a snorkel. All of these adaptations make them a sleek and streamlined freshwater predator.
The turtle is now resting in a large, shallow tub filled with foliage and hiding spots. She will be moved to deeper water as her wounds continue to heal.
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