Aquarium Employees Donate Time to Turtles

When severe cold weather hit the Florida area the beaches became inundated with cold-stunned sea turtles. The National Marine Fisheries Service responded to over 4,000 calls of stranded sea turtles in the second week of January. Helping hands were definitely vital to the endeavors, and employees from the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher were more than willing to help. Although many of the stunned sea turtles survived, some did not. The Protected Resources Branch of the National Marine Fisheries Service in Beaufort, North Carolina assisted in the evaluation of 532 turtles that died as a result of the harsh weather. This sad event presented a unique opportunity to sea turtle researchers who planned to conduct necropsies (animal autopsies) on all the turtles.

The necropsies included size and weight measurements, biological sampling, and full internal assessment of all of the major organ systems. This was a massive undertaking that could not have been completed without the help of countless, dedicated volunteers. The NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher graciously provided several volunteers for the day to help complete as many necropsies as possible. Aquarium employees and volunteers Matt Babineau, Ginger Black, Monica Dudley, Heather Gaunt, Casey Grieshaber, Julie Johnson, and Jamie Neill all volunteered their time, talent and energy to this amazing opportunity. They effectively completed 42 full necropsies the day they visited, which will help the research team learn more about basic sea turtle biology.

New Loggerheads Come to Town

As most head for the open ocean when they emerge from their sandy nests, some sea turtle hatchlings are detoured to the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher for health concerns. On Wednesday, October 21, the Aquarium released three loggerhead sea turtles that were rescued last summer right before tropical storm Hanna swept through the coast. The hatchlings were obtained from a Carolina Beach nest.

The loggerheads have been part of an interactive exhibit, Let’s Talk Turtle, which features a loggerhead hatchling and a replica of a nest with newly hatched turtles starting their run to the ocean.

Due to human pressures and other factors, all sea turtles that frequent North Carolina waters are listed as threatened or endangered. The NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher annually cares for many hatchlings suffering from injury, weakness or cold weather. The Aquarium releases all sea turtles that recover at the facility, most as soon as they are strong enough to face life in the wild. A few stay a little longer on exhibit as part of the Aquarium’s educational efforts.

Let’s Talk Turtle is a learning station that puts visitors face to face with a juvenile loggerhead sea turtle, and gives them a chance to ask questions.

“Assigning a ‘turtle talker’ really adds value,” said Education Curator Peggy Sloan, who helps train volunteers and staffers for duty in the booth. “Loggerheads are a threatened species,” explained Sloan, “and by helping people understand them we’re increasing their odds for survival.”

The loggerheads are rotated at the exhibit daily. Their diet is adjusted and modified consistently to ensure proper bone and shell growth. Weekly length and weight measurements help track growth. Quarterly blood tests performed by veterinarians from NC State University and daily sunbathing ensure calcium is properly absorbed and the turtles are healthy.

The three new hatchlings at the Aquarium were obtained by a nest in Carolina Beach. Out of the 137 turtles in the nest, 125 hatched and seven were left in the nest when it was excavated. The Aquarium received three of the seven post hatchlings.

The Aquarium works closely with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, who manages sea turtle permitting, monitoring and rescue efforts on the state’s beaches.

Turtle Test Swim

Three injured turtles from the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center visited the aquarium yesterday. Bradley, a loggerhead, was found severely injured in Bradley Creek. She had been struck by a boat. She is missing one flipper. Jersey, a Kemp's Ridley, lost a flipper in a fishing net in New Jersey. Canal was bitten by a shark and found in a canal on Ocean Isle Beach. She lost two flippers and a chunk of her shell. Turtle rescuers wondered how the amputees would fare if released back into the ocean. Their 300 gallon rehabilitation tanks were too small to test their abilities. Once they hit the water in our 6,500 gallon tank, they took off with cheers and encouragement from all who watched. We are happy to report - they all passed with flying colors. Bradley, Jersey and Canal will be released in late June.