Sea Turtle Hospital News

No room at the inn

Last year at this time our hospital was filled wall-to-wall with little Greens that had lingered near the coast a bit too long and were stunned, literally, by a sudden drop in air and water temperature. Those thirty little critters spent more than six months under our care, eating and growing – but mostly growing more impatient by the minute. Come the June release we were all happy to say goodbye to each other.

Their recently vacated “rooms” didn’t stay unoccupied very long. Before the end of the summer we really began to worry when large, severely injured Loggerheads started streaming through our doors as fast as we could roll out a tank and fill it with water. By the time we closed to the public we had to face the sad fact that we couldn’t take another turtle. We had used up every millimeter of space we had available. The only thing we could do was pray that we didn’t have a repeat of the previous year; that even the small turtles had picked up enough cues to get out of Dodge before another sudden drop in temperature. That was not to be.

The daunting task of finding safe havens for every single debilitated and cold-stunned turtle fell to our colleagues at the State Wildlife Resource Commission, Matthew Godfrey and Wendy Cluse. After an initial exam and treatment by our vet, Dr. Craig Harms, Wendy was able to place every turtle at our State aquariums at Pine Knoll Shores, Manteo and Fort Fisher - until they ran out of room. Fortunately the new sea turtle hospitals in South Carolina and Georgia were still accepting patients, but not until after the holidays. That’s how we ended up scrambling around on the Tuesday before Christmas trying to make room for a half-dozen short-term patients. Okay, even when we don’t have room we make room, at least for a few days.

These critters (five Greens and one Kemp’s) came in anemic and suffering from corneal abrasions and abscesses caused by exposure to the cold air and being tumbled around in the sandy surf. They were all given fluids and antibiotics and were treated for their eye injuries. Initially they refused food, but we’ve found that sometimes harassing turtles until they get mad enough to take a bite is the best way to get them interested in eating again. Although we always name our turtles (it’s just easier to keep track of them that way) we resisted that urge for these guys because we knew we wouldn’t have them for long. We just called them smallest, next smallest, boat prop, next largest, largest and “Kempie.” After a few days under our care they were all eating and their chances for a full recovery were looking much better.

On Monday, the 28, Wendy Cluse arrived and loaded her passengers into her van for the next leg of their journey: destination the South Carolina line and transfer to the sea turtle rehab facility at the aquarium in Charleston. For several of the turtles that would be their final stop. For the others, after an overnight stay they would head for the Georgia Sea Turtle Hospital on Jeckyl Island. It’s tough to let our turtles go, even if you’ve only known them for a few days, By this time next year, with your help, we’ll never again have to say, “sorry, no room at the inn.” That new hospital can’t be built fast enough!

Baby (turtles) it’s COLD outside!

We’re still not sure all the young’uns have headed for warmer waters. Turtles debilitated by injury or illness often just don’t have the strength to make the swim. Please be vigilant for any sea turtles that you might see floating in the water. They are most often found in the marshes, waterway, marinas and stranded on the beaches. These turtles need immediate help. You can be a “first responder” by gently picking the up and moving them to an enclosed, unheated area, like a garage. Cold-stunned turtles must be slowly re-warmed or they will go into shock. Once you have moved to the turtle to a safe location please call the State Sea Turtle Program Emergency Pager number: 252-247-8117, or (for Topsail area residents) call Jean at 910-470-2800.

When we build it everyone can come!

We can’t build our new facility without your support. One way to become part of new hospital is by signing up for “The Family Giving Challenge.” First, visit our website: www.seaturtlehospital.org and request the official giving form from our Webmaster. Decide who’s in your family, then put your game faces on and come up with some creative ways to get together your $1,000 donation for our building fund. You can be a family of one: or you can be “the one” in your family who spearheads this challenge. You make the rules.

When you’re ready to submit your donation just fill out the form and mail it to us per the instructions. Your family name will appear on a plaque, which will be permanently displayed in our new facility. You can also make your donation anonymously if you wish. How proud will you be when you bring your friends and relatives through our new building and point to your family’s name on the wall! You’re literally getting in on the ground floor of our much-needed state-of-the art rehabilitation facility. Flipper hugs in advance.

Care enough to care

Got a little extra cash from Santa that you want to put to good use? Log on to our website (www.seaturtlehospital.org) and check out the photo gallery of our patients looking for adoptive parents. The hardest part will be deciding which smiling turtle face is your favorite. Then just click you’ll be on your way to playing a big part in their rehabilitation. There’s a level of giving for every budget, every occasion. Thanks to all of you who have been so responsive to our new program – flipper hugs from all of our patients.

Questions, comments or to receive our monthly newsletter

Contact me at: flippers@embarqmail.com with questions or comments. Contact me at: flippers@att.net to request to be added to the monthly e-mail newsletter.  This column will appear in print every other week through next spring.

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