Sea turtles inhabit all of the world’s oceans except the Arctic. There are seven species of sea turtles; five of these are found in my home state of North Carolina. The most abundant species in North Carolina is the loggerhead that nests annually on our beaches. Loggerhead and green sea turtles are listed as “threatened” and the other three species are all listed as “endangered” under both federal and N.C. state law. All five species are listed as endangered or critically endangered by the World Conservation Union.
With so many turtles in danger at our beaches, there are precious few resources to help them. That changed in 1996 when a small group of dedicated volunteers with the Topsail Turtle Project stood on an empty lot in Topsail Beach, N.C. They had the opportunity to care for an injured sea turtle who came to be called Lucky and who required long term rehabilitation. Lucky was cared for and eventually returned to the wild.
The volunteers started thinking big: where would other sick and injured sea turtles go? In 1997, construction began on a 900 sq. ft. facility which would become the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center where air and water temperatures could be kept sea turtle warm. Volunteers would care for injured sea turtles, monitor the beach for nests each morning and make sure that baby sea turtles made it safely to the water each night. The hospital has been protecting turtles ever since. For a list of all of the turtles admitted to the hospital since 1996, check out this list. It will tell you the turtle’s name, species, injury or illness, date of admit and outcome. You can also read up on nesting counts for baby sea turtles.
Why care about sea turtles? Well, beyond the obvious (they are living things), sea turtles play key roles in coastal ecosystems. They act as grazers on the ocean floor (manatees are the only other animals that do this), helping keep a balance under the sea for other creatures to live and breed. On land, their presence contributes nutrients for dune vegetation; stronger vegetation and root systems helps to hold the sand in the dunes and helps protect the beach from erosion.
How can you help? You can sponsor a sea turtle. Doing so helps to rehabilitate your adopted sea turtle by supplying fish, squid and medicine to help them heal and return home. Adoption options start at just $25 – you can choose the turtle and the level of support.
You can make a cash donation online in any amount to the organization. If you’d prefer to mail a check, you can do that, too, by mailing it to:
SEA TURTLE HOSPITAL
P.O. BOX 2095
SURF CITY, NC 28445
Efforts are underway to improve the new facility, just put into service in 2012. For a $1,000 donation to the building fund, your name (or your family name or business) will appear on a plaque, which will be permanently displayed in the new place. Lots of tourists wander in so it’s a great way to get noticed – in addition to doing something good.
If you’d like to visit the hospital, you can take a tour. The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center is located across from the water tower in Topsail Beach (southern end of Topsail Island). The address is 822 Carolina Ave, Topsail Beach, NC. Go, check it out and then take a dip in the gorgeous North Carolina beaches. The hospital also has a gift shop (in person or online) – you can support the cause and buy a cool tee shirt!
If you’re in college, you can apply to become an intern. Summer Internships are a minimum of twelve weeks and housing is provided for the twelve-week program. (Be aware, though, that if you happen to be Class of 2024, you’ll have some fairly stiff competition as my older daughter is already making plans…)
A search at irs.gov (which I highly recommend any time you are considering making a donation to a charity) reveals that Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center is on the IRS list of charitable organizations. To find out more about the work of the organization, check out their website, or like them on Facebook.
