Sea Turtle Hospital News

Odds & Ends & Dates to Remember

There's lots of activity surrounding the hospital, beach program and all things connected to it. Here's what's going on and what's on tap for the next few months.

Topsail Turtle Project. As of this writing we're still nest-less, but we're challenging all those mama turtles to be the one to lay the first nest, and to do it on Mother's Day. Hey, it's happened in the past. But honestly, since the water temperature is lower than it usually is at this time of the year it will take one ambitious lady turtle on a mission (maybe her name is Hillary?) to fulfill that dream. There's good news and bad news from those in the know and those plying the open waters off our shore. There are big turtles out there, looking for love. The bad news is that, since the mid-90s we have seen an ongoing decline in the number of nests all along the southern Atlantic shores. The population of "northern" Loggerheads, those that frequent the waters of N.C., S.C. and Georgia are decreasing. That's according to studies and statistics from The National Marine Fisheries Service, and our own eyes and records sadly support that. But our beach walkers are nonetheless fired up and out there in force every day, determined to protect the turtles that do make it in.

New Turtle Hospital: It's been slow and sometimes painful, but we're finally seeing discernible progress towards our new facility in Surf City. The wetlands studies have been done and approved by the Corps of Engineers. We are working with our engineering firm Cavanaugh & Associates to secure all the state permits necessary for the site work. The architect is poring over the design for the hospital area of the new building and we're focusing on being as "green" as we can possibly be. Watch for detailed updates as we tweak our plans and start clearing the land on our way towards our state-of-the-art facility.

The interns are coming, the interns are coming: The summer interns are scheduled to start their 12-week program beginning May 25, and boy, do we all need a rest. Taking care of 27 turtles all winter, many of them humongous loggerheads wore us out. It looks like the interns will get an easy start, as most of our patients will be out the door in June. Unfortunately it doesn't stay that way for long. You'll get to meet each intern over the course of the summer in this column, and when we're open to visitors in the not too distant future.

Open wide and say "let me out of here." The pre-release physicals are scheduled for May 20. We'll have the full Tuesday crew on hand (all eight of us) plus Wendy Cluse and Matthew Godfrey from the state, who will be doing the weighing, measuring and tagging. Our turtle vet Dr. Craig Harms will shepherd in his vet students, needles in hand for the blood work. Definitely not going in the first wave are: Ambassador Lennie (our permanent resident), Carter, Boater, Eight and Snow. All the other patients have their flippers crossed hoping they pass their final exams.

Want a new Suzuki? For the fourth year we are again one of the Wilmington area non-profit groups selected to take part in the Bruce Cavenaugh Suzuki Charity Raffle. A $20 ticket will give you the chance to win one of two 2008 Suzukis: a Grand Vitara or an SX4. Bruce even pays the sales tax, license, title and registration fees, along with any other normal new car fees. All you have to do is pick up your Suzuki on June 25 and drive it home. The best thing about this event, other than winning a car, is that 100 percent of the money from the tickets you buy from us will go back to the hospital, and even if you don't win the car the purchase price is considered a charitable deduction. Tickets sold by the Turtle Hospital are currently available, through June 6, at the Topsail Chamber of Commerce on the causeway. And any hospital volunteer you know will gladly get you tickets - all the tickets you want! We will also be selling tickets at the Sneads Ferry Food Lion on May 24 (after 3 p.m.), and beginning at 10 a.m. on May 25, May 31 and June 1. 

Yard Sale: Planned for the Labor Day weekend (August 30 and 31), so if you find any treasures during your spring-cleaning that you'd like to put up for adoption please put them aside until I can pass along more details. Sorry, we can't accept large appliances, mattresses or clothing.

Lobster Dinner and Auction: On our calendar for Saturday, October 25. Put it on your calendar, and if you can donate to our live or silent auction we'd appreciate the support.

Seen a turtle - or tracks? Please report all sea turtle activity (nestings, strandings, injured turtles or hatchings) to our Director of Beach Operations, Terry Meyer at 910-470-2880.

Hospital closed until June: It won't be long until we throw open our doors again to our adoring public. Until then you can visit us on-line at: www.seaturtlehospital.org.

About this column: It's always helpful to get feedback from the readers of this column, and thankfully it's been overwhelmingly positive. Out-of-state residents frequently e-mail me to tell me they enjoy reading the stories on-line, and that they always pick up the print versions when they're in town. Some have even tracked me down at the hospital to let me know how much they've fallen in love with our turtles since reading about them. There are two readers who really "made my day." One told me that when she reads the stories "I feel like I'm working there." The other was a young mother who said the only thing her eight-year-old son willingly reads "is comic books and the turtle interviews." I'm sure you all have preferences for the kinds of stories you enjoy reading, as well as what you don't like. But unless you tell me the message is not always complete, or completely clear, just like that old game of "telephone." If there's something you think I need to hear please contact me directly at: flippers@embarqmail.com. We aim to please, at least please the majority of you!