A very relaxed sea turtle!

Photo submitted by Karen Sota

People are amazed to find that, even though we close our doors to the public at the end of August we remain open for “sea turtle business” year round. We have a full house every winter (25 turtles at the moment) and many of our patients are seriously injured and facing a long recovery period.

We can always count on a handful of cold-stunned Greens coming in every Fall. For some reason these babes miss the memo to head toward warmer waters, and as long as the food is still plentiful they see no need to relocate. But then a cold snap settles in for a few days, the water temperature takes a nosedive and the critters end up near death on a beach. We’re talking small turtles – dinner plate size.

Having diminutive body mass and being cold-blooded leaves little margin for error when you’re dealing with temperature swings. So how do you warm up a cold turtle? Very, very slowly, by placing them in water at their incoming body temperature and then gradually increasing it over the course of several days. Most cold stuns recover rapidly with a toasty tank and a few months on our “stuff your face” diet.

But as small as they are, they’re pretty high maintenance. You just can’t lob big hunks of fish and squid at them because, a) they look at you like you’re crazy and b) their little mouths can’t handle it. So the hospital chefs spend an inordinate amount of time filleting the catch of the day and preparing squid rings that are so pretty they could be served as an appetizer at any restaurant. And because our floor space is limited we usually end up shoving little turtle tanks in anywhere they’ll fit (including our bathroom,) which means they can’t be plumbed directly into our water system.

Each day, as their tanks are drained, cleaned and refilled, these little divas get their spa treatment: a bath, massage and “meditation” time. Contrary to what you might think, little Greens tend to calm down quickly when placed on their back with their head propped up. Go figure.

It’s not just the Greens that need special attention. We have several good-sized Loggerheads that have been put back together with plates and screws after being hit by boats. “Boater” and “Eight” arrived with gaping wounds that allowed us to see their lungs inflate when they took a breath.

Believe me, it’s pretty daunting to get in a turtle that you’re afraid to move for fear of “breaking” it. They’ve endured several surgeries at NC State Vet School, along with frequent debridement, flushing and packing of their wounds at the hospital. Thankfully they are both responding well to our care, and looking forward to the day when Miss Jean finally shows up with her screwdriver to remove their “metal.”  Until then, they just grit their turtle teeth and endure their water pick treatments.

And then there’s “Snow,” our Loggerhead recently diagnosed with fibropapilloma, fatal unless treated. Snow’s tumor appeared at the site of her head injury, and would have been deadly if we had not identified and removed it. She now requires special treatment during her daily cleaning, because this devastating disease is easily spread from turtle to turtle. And she’ll be with us the recommended 18 months after her surgery just to be sure there’s no recurrence.

She’s not going to be a happy turtle, because in her little reptilian brain she’s feeling pretty good and she’s ready to check out. Hopefully putting her on the tour during our Summer open house will take her mind off of her lengthy incarceration.

The work never stops at our hospital. We’re blessed to have a stable, dedicated crew of volunteers that work days, nights, weekends and holidays to keep our sea turtles fat and happy. And we’re grateful to you, our supporters, for the generous, year-round donations that keep us going, and growing.

Join our Topsail Turtle Project

Our sea turtles need your help during the rapidly approaching nesting and hatching season.

There are four training sessions scheduled for new volunteers (returning volunteers are welcome but attendance is not required.) The training dates are: Tuesday (4/8) 2-4 PM; Thursday (4/10) 7-9 PM; Monday (4/14) 2-4 PM and Wednesday (4/16) 7-9 PM. Training will be held at the Surf City Community Center (off J.H. Batts Rd.; landmarks are Docksider and Gilligans.) You need only attend ONE training session.

Volunteers must make a commitment to walk at least one day a week during the entire nesting (May-Aug) season. It is preferable that you also be available on as as-needed basis during the hatching season (July until the last turtle has left the island, usually October.) Of course, everyone wants to be on-hand when “their” nest hatches! TTP volunteers will be thoroughly trained, outfitted (in their distinctive T-shirts) and ready to roll on May 1st.

For more information you can contact Terry Meyer, Director of Beach Operations at: 910-470-2880.

Hospital closed until June, but you can still visit us on-line at: http://www.seaturtlehospital.org/.

Questions or Comments about this column? Contact me at: flippers@embarqmail.com

The Topsail Turtle Project has scheduled four training sessions for volunteers interested in becoming part of the sea turtle nesting/hatching program on Topsail Island. Training will be held on: Tuesday (4/8) 2-4 PM; Thursday (4/10) 7-9 PM; Monday (4/14) 2-4 PM and Wednesday (4/16) 7-9 PM. Location is the Surf City Community Center (off J.H. Batts Rd.; landmarks are Docksider and Gilligans.) New volunteers need only attend ONE training session. Returning volunteers need not attend. For more information, contact Terry Meyer, Director of Beach Operations @ 910-470-2880.