Sea Turtle Hospital News

Classes are in session!

Seems like everybody wants to get back to learnin' come September. A few weeks ago we hosted a group of fourth year vet students for a two-week sea turtle rotation. This week we had visitors from "up north," up north being Kentucky. Twelve biologists and divers from the Newport Aquarium (spitting distance across the river from Cincinnati) spent a week on Topsail, immersed in water both in and out of our hospital. Thankfully they got the memo from Jean that said: come dressed in turtle garb and be prepared to work.

Following a short orientation (since most of them were first-timers this year) they got busy feeding breakfast to our very impatient patients. Initially some of our pickier turtles tried to take advantage of the new faces by refusing to eat, but the aquarium crew persisted and eventually got just about everyone to chow down. Guided by our team of regular volunteers they pitched right in with the daily turtle care and hospital maintenance, cleaning tanks and assisting with some sponge baths for the little greens (and Brownie.) Even our six post-hatchlings got additional attention as they were hovered-over and coaxed to eat by our sea turtle nannies.

We were just as eager to learn about their work at the aquarium, as they were to learn about what we do. We heard lots of stories about their resident loggerhead "Denver," a 300-plus pound teenager who apparently rules the shark tank. He lives at the aquarium for the same reason we sent our green "Bay" to live in Minneapolis: he's got a flotation problem and can't stay down unless he wedges himself under a rock or reef. That often means he harasses a sleeping nurse shark until he gets his way, annoying the heck of the poor creatures. He's even tried to take food from them, so now he dines in a separate "no hogging food" section during the mass feedings.

Just like our loggerheads, Denver has a very strong and definite personality. He's enamored with their female divers, especially when they wear pink. He's fascinated by the red rag that the divers use to clean the tank's glass, and he pouts when he can't have it. We know that behavior very well: the evil eye or the flipper, and then a refusal to acknowledge your presence by turning their back on you and swimming away. Apparently all loggerheads are hardheads, and clowns, regardless of birthplace or current residence.

The divers also related a terrifying 15-minute incident during recent hurricane Ike. There were several divers in the shark tank feeding the residents when the electricity went out. Can you image what that must have been like: total darkness, a tank full of hungry sharks ready to chow down and humans in wetsuits wondering if they were literally going to make it out in one piece. They did.

When they weren't working at our hospital our visitors were diving off our coast looking for artifacts to take back. Specifically they hoped to find a tooth from the extinct Megalodon shark, where every inch of tooth translates into 10 feet of shark body behind it. The operative work here is extinct - thank goodness. They were also picking up a hatchling from CMAST to raise as part of the "head start" program. The program is an effort to give sea turtles a better chance to make it by keeping them in a controlled and safe environment (the aquarium) for a year before their release.

It's always fun to spend time with people who work in the same "industry," comparing notes, talking shop and brainstorming for ideas. In addition to sending us a group of workers every year, the Newport Aquarium continues to be generous in their financial support of our operation. If you're ever in the Kentucky/Ohio area, bop on over and say "hey" to loggerhead Denver. Thanks to the aquarium staff and volunteers who came last week, and good luck in finding that shark's tooth.

Help keeps coming

Ask and you shall receive. Thanks to the Holly Ridge Police Department for their support. A big thank you to George Howard at the On Shore Surf Shop for his expert repair of a vital piece of equipment for our water filtration system. Our charcoal filter cage literally fell apart and (surprise!) they don't make that part anymore. He managed to resurrect the part from the pieces that were left, so now, with the help of "Frankencage" we're back in business and our turtle water is clean and clear.

Topsail Turtle Project

The hatching continues, despite damage and destruction to nests during the recent "no-name" storm. Check our website: www.seaturtlehospital.org for updates and continue to report all sea turtle activity to our Director of Beach Operations, Terry Meyer at: 910-470-2880.

Lobster dinner tickets now on sale

When: Saturday, October 25

Where: Assembly Building, Topsail Beach.

Time: Complimentary wine and cheese beginning at 6 p.m. Dinner at 7 p.m., followed by our live auction.

On the menu: 1 to1.5 pounds lobster, clams, corn-on-the-cob, potatoes, Jean's world-famous tomato/cuke salad and rolls. A variety of yummy, gooey (calorie-free, of course) homemade desserts will also be served.

Tickets: $40/person. Available at: Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce, the new Surf City Welcome Center and Quartermoon Bookstore. Seating is limited to 200.

Auction: Silent auction and live auction. Lots of great donations are arriving daily, but our turtles still need the support of artists, business owners and individuals who provide a personal service. To donate, contact either me at flippers@embarqmail.com, or Jean Beasley at: loggrhead@aol.com for details. It's tax deductible.

Hospital open October 18 & 19

We'll open our hospital doors during Autumn with Topsail, weather permitting. Our turtles are gearing up for the event, with "Ambassador Lennie" conducting a crash course in visitor etiquette for the turtles who will be on tour. Our gift shop will be open, and in addition to our usual T-shirts we've got some "winter-wear" for visitors, family and friends who live in the northern climes. After the festival we close our doors until June 2009. During the winter you can still see a few of our patients if you peek through our garage door windows. The best time to look is in the afternoon, when we've finished our daily work, and the condensation is gone. Depending on availability one of our volunteers may be able to step outside for a few moments to chat with you. We appreciate your interest and thank you for your support.

Questions, comments or suggestions for stories

Contact me at: flippers@embarqmail.com. 

Karen Sota is the volunteer media coordinator for the Sea Turtle Hospital in Topsail Beach.