Topsail Beach, NC - The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center

Sea Turtle Hospital News

At least for a bit longer. Little loggerhead "Lefty" is feeling a tad "left out" these days. This critter was one of a handful of post-hatchlings that literally blew in during the aftermath of almost-a-hurricane Hannah last September. A few of the stronger babes were released to the Gulf Stream after a short stay at the hospital. Others were unable to overcome the trauma of being battered by the heavy seas where they ultimately washed ashore and were stranded on our area beaches.

Lefty shortly after arriving at the hospital.

Then we have Lefty, named for a missing right flipper. We’re not exactly sure what happened, and sea turtles are notoriously bad at sharing information so we’ll never get the real story. After giving the little guy a few days to rest and get his bearings we got pushy. We insisted that he eat, and for some time it was not unlike trying to feed a baby that keeps spitting strained peas back at you. That is until we found the one thing that Lefty just couldn’t resist: coquina clams. You know those tiny clams with the pretty little shells that live at the surf line? Well, Lefty used all his charm (and his disability) to persuade one of our volunteers to spend her free time literally combing the beach in search of his breakfast, lunch and dinner. And he wanted them out of the shell and served.

Lefty was on his way to bulking up. And because he spent all day stuffing his face with clams he was quickly outgrowing his home. The little con artist started whining about how he didn’t have room to move around, and somehow he managed to talk his way into a new tank and a piece of prime hospital real estate. Now our little prince is sitting pretty. His digs are up high and under a window, and he’s enjoying his continuous shower of warm, filtered water.

Same hand, same turtle 4 months later.

Lefty may think he has it made, but we have news for him. Since he lost his flipper at such a young age he doesn’t remember what it’s like to be able to steer. He spends his time swimming in one direction. Now that may work when your boundary is a few feet in diameter, but the last time we checked the ocean was considerably larger. To make it out there he’ll need to be able to navigate a lot better than he does at the moment. Our new challenge is to train him to swim in both directions, and to teach him to dive for his food.

In the meantime, if you happen to come across any coquina clams that are willing to sacrifice themselves for a good cause Lefty would like you to drop them off any morning before 10 AM. He says you don’t even have to shuck them because he’s a big boy now. (I’m just the messenger.)

Questions, comments or suggestions for stories
Contact me at: flippers@embarqmail.com.  This column will appear approximately every two weeks during the winter months.