Photos submitted by Karen Sota

Sea Turtle Lennie

As I headed to Lennie’s tank to ask him about his latest diplomatic jaunt I was stopped in my tracks by sea turtle Pound.

Pound: Pssst – hey lady!

Karen Sota: Yes?

Pound: I hear Lennie’s been bad-mouthing me to my adoring public.

Karen Sota: You can’t believe everything you hear. Sea turtles are notorious gossips.

Pound: I knew you’d defend him. That’s why I have this. (Pulls out a 2-week-old article about Lennie’s trip to the aquarium.)

Karen Sota: Exactly what are you objecting to?

Pound: The part where he says I’m a “head case.”

Karen Sota: Well, you are.

Pound: Yeah, but he’s not talking about my injury. He told the world that I’m some sort of crazy diva.

Karen Sota: Well, you’ll have to admit that anytime we come near you you open your mouth and start making demands. When you’re not complaining about the food, you’re whining about how cold your water is, or how you have to keep changing tanks.

Pound: What’s the deal with moving me around every month?

Karen Sota: I rest my case.

Pound: Seriously, why do you keep putting me in different tanks? Just when I get all my stuff set up I have to pack up and relocate.

Karen Sota: It’s because we have so little room for all the sick turtles that are here with you. As medical conditions change, or we get another sick turtle we have to change everything around. You just got moved to a larger tank so I don’t know why you’re so crabby.

Pound: Crab? Did you say you’ve got crab for me?

Karen Sota: Look, I’m headed over to see Lennie. I’ll mention that you’re a little sensitive about his comments.

Karen Sota: Hi, Lennie. How was your trip to Raleigh last week?

Lennie: Reptile & Amphibian Day was a blast! I spent a few days beforehand rubbing on my pipe, polishing up my scutes. I looked fi-ine. In fact, I looked so good some people couldn’t believe I was a LIVE sea turtle.  I made more than one of them scream in surprise!

Karen Sota: I heard thousands of fans came to visit you, and you wowed them.

Lennie: I did my best to represent the hospital and sea turtles all over the world. Even the Marines came to see me.

Karen Sota: Actually, it was a whole lot of boy scouts, but since your vision is almost non-existent I can see how you’d make that mistake. 

Lennie: I loved my time at the museum, but you know what the best part of the day was?

Karen  Sota: I can only guess.

Lennie: The trip home! You know how Miss Jean tends to drive with her flipper to the floor? Well, we got caught up in that tornado in Hampstead, and even she had to slow down. I think she was scared, but I wasn’t.

Karen Sota: Well, this will scare you. Pound is over there fuming about you calling her a head case.

Lennie: Don’t worry about it. We ambassadors have extensive experience in resolving disputes with diplomacy.

Karen Sota: (Sigh.) My head hurts.

Lennie: Join the club.

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