PONCE INLET, Fla. -- Biologists took 1,500 rehabilitated baby turtles back to the ocean Friday after being washed ashore more than a week ago. The hatchling green, loggerhead and rare Kemp's ridley turtles washed ashore during rough surf caused by an off-shore tropical system.

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At only three or four inches big, they never really stood a chance against the 10-foot waves that washed them in. Green sea turtles, loggerheads and even rare Kemp's ridleys, more than 2,000 washed back onto Central Florida beaches the last 10 days, far outpacing the old high count of 80.

"We were getting calls all hours of the day and night, people out at night walking, paging, wondering what to do with it," explained Michelle Bauer, turtle rehab specialist.

The turtles were rehabilitated at the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet. The center said wash-backs are usually found during the nesting season, between August 1 and November 31. Many were tired, dehydrated and underweight, but 75 percent of the hardy reptiles that came in are going back home. The center chartered the turtles out to the Gulf Stream Friday morning.

"Considering the 2,000 sea turtles we had come in, really we've had a very low mortality rate, so we're very pleased with that," said Michael Brothers, Marine Science Center.

Biologists loaded up 1,500 of the turtles into crate and coolers and gave them an easy lift back out into the ocean. They were taken 30-40 miles out to sea, where they were dropped into a line of protective seaweed. Scientists hope they won't be back until they're old enough to nest themselves.

Most of the turtles washed up onto Volusia County beaches, but they also came in from St. Johns, Flagler and Brevard counties.