Sea Turtle Hospital News

Turtle Hospital is OPEN Labor Day weekend!

Usually the place to be on Labor Day weekend is at our annual yard sale. But this year we're doing something we haven't done in many, many years: we're keeping our hospital open on Friday (29) and Saturday (30) of that weekend to give you one last chance to visit us and our too-cute-for-words patients. That's the good news, the really good news. The bad news is, after much agonizing, it became apparent to all of us that our time and energy needed to be redirected to the construction of our new facility. That decision, and the loss of our sale venue meant that we had no choice but to cancel our yard sale for this year. We deeply appreciate the time and effort you spent gathering, saving and even dropping off some great items. Be assured that we will resurrect this important fundraiser in 2009, bigger, better and hopefully on the site of our new building. We'll take good care of the stuff you've donated until then. Flipper hugs and turtle kisses to our supporters, and do visit us at our hospital over the weekend.

 Eau du Flippeur

Ah, the enticing aroma of wet reptile in the morning. As our college interns headed back to school the year-round volunteers returned to work. We dug out our "turtle clothes," the ones covered with Clorox and squid stains that we had in semi-retirement over the summer. Then we strapped on our non-skid footwear, the shoes that have to be kept outdoors because of their unique fragrance. Add a favorite fashion accessory (mine happens to be a headband, so appropriate for preparing the morning meals of raw fish) and we're all fired up and good to go.

There have been quite a few new turtles admitted since the June release, and even though most of us have been working the open house during the afternoons our interaction with the patients has been minimal. Our first order of business was to become reacquainted with our old friends, the ones that didn't make the cut in June, and to find out just what kinds challenges were in store for us with our recent admits. It's apparent that the little guys are the ones taking a beating this summer. Net and fishing line entanglements can result in lost flippers and deep gashes in the soft carapaces of baby Greens and Kemps. These wounds often slice clear through the body, can be slow to heal and can lead to secondary, unexpected damage that requires specialized care. Of course we have our usual fishhook victim, a little Kemps that just couldn't resist an easy meal of squid-on-a-rope. "Barnacle Bills," the turtles that come in emaciated and covered with barnacles, leeches, algae and rotting bone round out the list.

We've also had a few hatchlings overnight at our B&B, although for one-night stays it's only a bed because they're still feeding off stored energy from their yolk sack. Usually these critters just need some alone time to work out the kinks in a flipper that they "slept on wrong." Or they may have gotten battered and bruised in the mad rush to get out of the nest. We still have a lot of nests due to hatch so who knows what's coming our way over the next few months. We're like scouts: prepared.

Topsail Turtle Project

There's so much going on the volunteers are spinning in circles trying to keep up with it. A lot of eggs are still cooking, especially on the northern end of the island. Visitors are really getting into the spirit of things; sometimes even delaying their return trip home just in case that nest they've been watching all week actually hatches. To parody an old saying: a watched nest doesn't always boil! You can keep track of all the nesting and hatching activity on our website: www.seaturtlehospital.org. Report all sea turtle activity (nestings, strandings, injured turtles or hatchings) is our Director of Beach Operations, Terry Meyer at 910-470-2880.

Turtle Hospital

We shut the doors and hang out the "Closed for 2008" sign after our last tour group on August 30. Until then, visit us daily from 2 to 4 p.m., except Wednesday and Sunday. We will be open during "Autumn with Topsail," weather permitting. Our gift shop closes when the hospital does, but you can still order on-line at our website: www.seaturtlehospital.org. Please note that two incorrect phone numbers appear in various places in the "Coaster" magazine: the correct number for reporting turtle activity/strandings is: 910-470-2880. The correct number for the hospital is: 910-328-3377.

Turtle Talks

The last day is August 27.  After that it's bye-bye Lilmar until May of next year. Plan to attend her one-hour (3:45 to 4:45 p.m.) swan song where she'll pass out her cool handouts for the last time in 2008. The presentation is appropriate for ages K-adult, and cameras are welcome. The location is the Surf City Community Center, JH Batts Rd. (off Rt. 210 between Docksider and Gilligans.) Admission is free but donations for our turtles are appreciated. Please leave food and drinks in the car. For more information call the hospital at: 910-328-3377.

Lobster Dinner & Auction

Get out your dance cards and pencil us in for Saturday, October 25. This is a critical year in our fund-raising efforts, so if you are an artist, business owner or you provide a personal service that you can donate for our silent or live auction please contact me at: flippers@embarqmail.com, or Jean Beasley at: loggrhead@aol.com. All donations are tax deductible. We'll let you know when and where tickets are available. Get yours early because seating is limited. 

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.