Topsail Beach, NC - The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center
Sea Turtle Hospital News
Going Home
After basking in our care and hospitality for months, and in some cases years, twenty-two sea turtles have left the building. As a large crowd of volunteers and invited guests converged on the hospital an even larger crowd was assembling on the beach. This year’s release ceremony was especially poignant. We recently lost long-time volunteer Mike Helwig, and also Dick Williams, husband of Lilmar (Turtle Talk) Taylor-Williams. In addition to remembering them, volunteers and guests wore ribbons commemorating the 145 (documented) sea turtles already lost to injury and disease so far this year.
Ginger Taylor and “Sneezy” head to the surf
As soon the tears dried the fun began; the draining of the tanks and the transfer of our very excited patients to the individuals assigned to release them. The little greens were easy: they’ve been shuffled around all winter as we tried to make room for incoming turtles, so they’re used to being handled. As long as you are totally devoted to them they’re happy to settle into your arms like a baby and bask in the attention. It’s a little tougher to cradle a 150-pound loggerhead that just wants you to get them to the water. In fact, it was all the volunteers could do to keep these critters in the cars and trucks during the short ride to the surf. “Janelle” tried to convince us that, if we would just let her out at the beach across from the hospital she’d swim down and meet us at the release point and we could do a second release “for show.” Those loggerheads are crafty, but we weren’t buying her story. Eleven vehicles traveled slowly down the road, up and over the access and onto the beach. And thanks to the incredible efforts of our Topsail Turtle Project volunteers who arrived hours ahead of time to set up and work the crowd we had a clear path to the surf once we arrived.
“Dixon” ready for splashdown
Every turtle had their final fifteen minutes of fame as they were slowly carried to the water, each one identified by students who vied for the honor of carrying their name card. At the shore Mother Nature opened her welcoming arms and quickly reclaimed her once again healthy and joyous family. This is what we do, and we do it again and again, year after year. But most of us still leave the beach in a state of simmering emotional turmoil, concerned for the safety of these helpless creatures in an increasingly cruel and hazardous environment.
Topsail Turtle Project Update
It’s been a slow start for the ladies, but we hear from boaters that there are lots of turtles “out there,” about 20 miles from shore. We have six nests as of this writing, and would have had a seventh if some uninformed or just plain nasty people hadn’t chased a mama all over the beach while she was in the middle of laying her eggs (you left footprints.) Not only was this just plain wrong, sea turtles are federally protected and harassing them in any way is punishable by a hefty fine and/or imprisonment. We’re hoping that the nesting will ramp up as the waters finally begin to get warmer, and that we’ve seen the last of the kind of person who would intentionally interfere with a mother in the process of laying her eggs. We’re asking that our residents and visitors assist in our efforts to protect the incoming mamas by being extra vigilant for nesting or stranded turtles, and by reporting anybody you see harassing our sea turtles to our Director of Beach Operations, Terry Meyer @ 910-470-2880, immediately. Harassment incidents should also be reported immediately to the town police.
The hospital is OPEN!
The welcome mat is officially out, the patients have been settled into their new tanks and our summer interns are on the job. The gift shop is full of fresh merchandise: T-shirts, hats, visors, baby togs, stuffed turtles and all kinds of other turtle “stuff.” The donation jars are out, and this year we really need everybody’s support to get that final $350,00 we need to put up phase one of our new building. Visiting hours are from 2-4 PM daily, EXCEPT Wednesday and Sunday. Lines can be long, so come prepared with sunscreen and umbrellas for shade. We reserve the right to close without notice during hazardous weather and for incoming turtles. “Turtle Talk” Returns Join us at the Surf City Community Center for a great family-oriented program on the mysterious lives of sea turtles. Turtle Talk is a great way to learn about these majestic creatures, with plenty of handouts and hands-on activities for every age. The program is free and is held every Wednesday from 3:45 - 4:45 PM, through Labor Day. Bring your camera, and donations for our turtles are gratefully accepted.
Questions, comments or suggestions for stories
Contact me at: flippers@embarqmail.com
Contact me at: flippers@embarqmail.com
Posted by Karen Sota.
Filed under Sea Turtle News
Posted on Tue, 09 June 2009 at 10:03 am
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