This spring, we welcomed 10 interns from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. In addition to learning about turtle care and husbandry, the students practiced their communication skills by teaching the public about sea turtles, and completed a project. One such project - a video about KBSTRRC - appears above.

In their own words, here is an introduction to the KBSTRRC Spring, 2021 student interns.

LUCY: Hi, everyone! My name is Lucy. I am currently a third-year undergraduate student at UNCW. I am majoring in Biology and minoring in Clinical Research. I have grown up spending my summers on the Gulf coast of Florida in Sanibel and Captiva Islands and have fallen in love with ocean conservation and marine life. This past summer, I worked for a marine science education program through UNCW called MarineQuest. I had the opportunity to educate middle schoolers on all things sea turtles and was able to visit KBSTRRC several times. I loved the passion and enthusiasm that everyone at the facility had for their job and knew that I wanted to get involved. I am so excited to be an intern and have the opportunity to make a difference while also gaining meaningful experiences at KBSTRRC! 

KIM: Hi, my name is Kim. I am currently a junior marine biology major at UNCW and an intern at the KBSTRRC. I am from New Jersey and came down to North Carolina for school. After I graduate, I plan on going on to graduate school to get my master's degree. I have always had such a love and passion for marine life and conservation. I am eager to expand my knowledge of sea turtle conservation and rehabilitation!
 
KELSEY: Hi, my name is Kelsey and I am originally from Leicester, Massachusetts and moved to North Carolina in 2019. Since I was a child, I have always been fascinated with wildlife and animals. I have worked in the environmental science field at nature preserves such as Massachusetts Audubon Society and have also volunteered at local animal shelters here in North Carolina. My previous experiences have led me to pursue a degree in biology as an undergraduate at UNC Wilmington. I will be graduating in the spring of 2022 with future goals to attend veterinary school to obtain my DVM. I am very excited to be working as an intern at KBSTRRC this spring and learning about the rehabilitation process of sea turtles!
 
HANNAH: My name is Hannah and I am from Jacksonville, NC. I am currently a junior at UNC-Wilmington, majoring in Marine Biology. My plan is to attend NC State College of Veterinary Medicine and earn my DVM. To gain experience I am currently working at a small animal hospital and now at KBSTRRC to gain experience in marine life. I am thankful to be involved in the KBSTRRC to allow me the opportunity to learn more about sea turtles and how to care and protect them.
 
VICTORIA: Hi! My name is Victoria, and I am a senior at UNCW. I will be graduating this summer with a degree in marine biology and a minor in oceanography. I have always been passionate about marine life and understanding how the ocean affects everything! Being able to give back to the environment and work directly with animals for their benefit is truly inspiring to me. I am honored to be an intern and be a part of such a meaningful project like KBSTRRC. I am most excited to learn about what it takes to rehabilitate the sea turtles and more about their ecology! 
 
REJANA: Hi, my name is Rejana! I am currently an undergraduate at UNC Wilmington majoring in Marine Biology with a minor in Oceanography.  I am very excited to be part of this internship opportunity as I would like to eventually have a career working at a marine mammal rehabilitation center. I am also interested in getting involved with Cetacean research and exploring the ways in which whales and dolphins visually perceive the underwater world. This is my first time working with sea turtles, so I am eager to learn all that I can to help me get one step closer to my career goals!
 
CORINNE: Hi, my name is Corinne! I am a marine biology student at UNCW and I'm so excited to be a spring intern here at the KBSTRRC. Growing up in upstate New York, I was surrounded by lakes but always had a love for the ocean and the creatures that live in it! My dream job is to work at a marine hospital on a rescue and release team, so I knew this opportunity was the perfect fit for me. I am so excited to work with our sea turtle patients and lead tours of the facility! 
 
MORGAN: Hi! My name is Morgan and I am currently a junior at UNCW majoring in Biology and minoring in Spanish. I am from Charlotte, NC and have always been interested in anything to do with animals and as I have grown up my passion has centered around the medical aspect of it. After graduating from here I am hoping to attend veterinary school to get my DVM and possibly specialize in large animal medicine. I have experience working with animals from shadowing in an animal clinic and having the opportunity to return with a short-term paid position as a vet tech. Helping out there solidified my love for veterinary medicine and fueled my interest in exploring additional animal specialties other than general practice. I felt as though I needed to branch out and that is why I am so stoked for this internship and the ability to broaden my experiences working with sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation!
 
SIERRAH: Hey everyone! My name is and I am originally from Greeley Colorado but moved to North Carolina in the summer of 2021! I originally attended school at the University of Northern Colorado for my first two years, majoring in ecology, and then before the start of my third year I transferred to the University of North Carolina- Wilmington, where I am currently getting a degree in marine biology. From the time I was a little kid I have always wanted to work with marine animals; I would always say that I wanted to work with dolphins when people would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up. Although I have refined my response to that question now, I still have a passion for working with marine animals and after graduation I hope to be work in the rescue and rehabilitation field of marine biology. Which is why I was extremely eager to get the opportunity to intern at the KBSTRRC and get to explore more of the field that I am interested in!
 
OLIVIA: My name is Olivia, and I am currently finishing up my senior year at UNCW, although I am originally from Pennsylvania. I am studying biology with a chemistry minor. Sea turtles have been my favorite animal ever since I can remember, so I am very excited to be able to work with them each week. This is a great hands-on learning experience that is giving me valuable knowledge and experience to help me further my career in biology and conservation.

by Karen Sota

​Spring is officially here, and it’s something even sea turtles seem to recognize. In a few short weeks nesting season officially begins and there have already been sightings of loggerheads heading toward our coastal beaches. But along with all the “coming” we have a very important “going.”

Canal, a juvenile green who has been with us for almost seven years is relocating a few hours away to his forever home. Canal has been such a fixture in our hospital that most of you probably thought he was going to live with us forever. But our mission is to give every turtle the best possible life after rehabilitation. If we can’t send them back to Mother Ocean, we owe it to them to find an environment where they can live out the rest of their lives safely and well cared for. Finally – we’ve done it for Canal.
​
​But first, a little background on Canal. He was originally admitted October 15, 2015 with a boat strike injury to the backend of his carapace. It’s a fairly common injury with many admits and in most cases it’s just time to heal and then back home. But every once in awhile it results in a buoyancy problem where a turtle cannot dive and stay submerged, just popping back up to the surface usually butt-up.


​Although initially Canal seemed to be doing fine, over time we noticed that he was struggling to stay down and was devoting increased time paddling around the top of his tank. But there was also a long period where he spent extended periods scooting along the bottom of the therapy pool. Release was looking increasingly like an option. After extensive discussions with Dr. Harms, Jean and our hospital staff we decided that we should give Canal a chance to go home. On June 13, 2018 Canal was released from the beach in front of a large, cheering crowd.

On June 14th he re-stranded in Surf City, close to where he left us in what we hoped would be his second chance to put the “sea” back in sea turtle. It appears that he just didn’t have the stamina to fight the waves and make it out to deeper water. Or maybe he just missed us. Thankfully, he was unharmed and although we were disappointed we welcomed him back. Recognizing that release was not in his future the search for a new home began. His photo and CV were sent to aquariums who had what we considered suitable accommodations for one of favorite patients, but between hurricanes and Covid things just didn’t work out. Until now.

In the very near future Canal will be relocating to SEA LIFE Charlotte-Concord where they’re putting the finishing touches on his very own room with a 5,000-gallon tank, including three windows for underwater viewing. If you’re a “people turtle” like Canal this is the perfect marriage between a great sea turtle life and the opportunity to bask in the admiration of the many, many fans he’s collected over the years. Of course there are plans in the works to send Canal off in style – stay tuned for details.

During April our hospital is open to the public for tours three days a week: 11 AM – 1 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, and Noon – 2 PM on Sundays. Tickets must be purchased in advance through our website: www.seaturtlehospital.org. Select the date, time and the number of guests in your party and purchase your tickets. We limit the number of guests for each time to make the experience more enjoyable and to continue our commitment to keep you and our staff safe as we work our way through Covid. Please check the website for our current policy on masks which is based on transmission rates in our part of the state. And remember that you can come to the gift shop without going on the tour. Enter through the single door to the left of the main entrance.

Even though we’re still on alert for late arriving cold stuns it won’t be too much longer until those turtle mamas start heading toward shore. On Topsail our official start to nesting season is May 1st. If you spot anything unusual such as a stranding or nesting, please call our Director of Beach Operations, Terry Meyer at: 910-470-2880. If she is not available, you may call the hospital during operating hours: 910-329-0222. We will take the information and we will meet you to retrieve the turtle that will then be brought to us for follow-up. The State of NC hotline for stranded, sick, and injured turtles is 252-241-7367. The state number picks up 24/7. Please note that all our work with sea turtles, at the hospital and on the beach, is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, ES Permit 22ST05. 

by Karen Sota

Many of the cold-stunned patients we admitted over the winter are well on their way to getting their final release papers, along with a boat ride home. But we still have a few in our Sick Bay area that need some extra TLC. One of those is a little green named “Thistle.”

Thistle stranded on Cape Lookout on January 18th with more problems than just being frosty. As a turtle starts to experience the effects of the cold their circulation decreases leaving them unable to move. Their
flippers and head are especially vulnerable to all kinds of damage as they lie exposed and helpless. That includes predation.

Thistle was on the thin side, we’ve seen much worse, but we don’t normally see a bite wound on a sea turtle that clearly came from a mammal. Based on the outline of the bite and some adjacent marks it
appears that Thistle was almost a snack for a coyote. Her wound is on the underside of her right front flipper and is very deep, through muscle and down to the bone. The bite is serious, and her flipper is extremely fragile, but she somehow manages to use it quite well.

Thistle was immediately put on the standard protocol of fluids and antibiotics, along with topical wound treatment consisting of lots of flushing with saline and diluted betadine after which she spends time
resting comfortably on a fluffy towel while honey is applied to her wound and left to work its magic. Following a final flush, SSD is applied before she’s returned to her tank.

After a few weeks with us it became apparent that the surrounding tissue was getting worse; the size of the wound was growing, possibly from bacteria foreign to a sea turtle. Fluids, antibiotics, and wound care
has continued and now we’re finally seeing signs of healing. We want the dead scar tissue to slough off by itself without disturbing the muscle healing beneath it. Thistle is kept in extremely clean water, switched between tanks multiple times during the day and handled very gently. And barring anything out of the ordinary it looks like this little lady has beaten a wily coyote and will be going back home with all of her flippers.

We’ve had a very busy few weeks since reopening for public tours. All time slots have been filled on Fridays and Saturdays but take heart. We’re adding another day – Sunday -beginning in April. Tour hours
will be 11 AM – 1 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, and Noon – 2 PM on Sundays. Tickets must be purchased in advance through our website: www.seaturtlehospital.org. Select the date, time and the number of guests in your party and purchase your tickets. We limit the number of guests for each time to make the experience more enjoyable and to continue our commitment to keep you and our staff safe as we work our way through Covid, and we are still requiring masks for everyone except children under 5 years of age – no exceptions. And just a reminder that you can come to the gift shop without going on the tour. Enter through the single door to the left of the main entrance.

Even though we’re still on alert for late-arriving cold stuns it won’t be too much longer until those turtle mamas start heading toward shore. On Topsail our official start to nesting season is May 1st. If you spot anything unusual such as a stranding or nesting, please call our Director of Beach Operations, Terry Meyer at: 910-470-2880. If she is not available, you may call the hospital during operating hours: 910-329-0222. We will take the information and we will meet you to retrieve the turtle that will then be
brought to us for follow-up. The State of NC hotline for stranded, sick, and injured turtles is 252-241-7367. The state number picks up 24/7. Please note that all our work with sea turtles, at the hospital and
on the beach, is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, ES Permit 22ST05.

by Karen Sota​
​
Our turtles welcome you back! We’ll reopen for public tours on a limited schedule beginning Friday, March 4th. Throughout the month of March you can visit us on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 AM – 1 PM.

To book your tour log on to our website (www.seaturtlehospital.org) and follow the prompts.  Select the date, time and the number of guests in your party and purchase your tickets. We limit the number of guests for each time to make the experience more enjoyable and to continue our commitment to keep you and our staff safe as we work our way through Covid. Our southeastern NC counties are still considered high transmission areas and we are requiring masks for everyone except children under 5 years of age – no exceptions.

We have thirty patients on-site, most of them in Sea Turtle Bay completing their recovery and hoping for a ticket to warmer waters. Greens Belle and Rosemary are now sharing a “duplex” tank immediately inside the Turtle Bay doors. After a short territorial dispute they’ve become BTF’s – Best Turtle Friends. We suspect Belle may have an ulterior motive though. Rosemary still receives a small ration of fish with her morning veggies while Belle (who is zaftig, to put it kindly) is served only veggies. We think the reason Belle hangs out by the divider so much is that she’s hoping some fish will accidentally come floating her way. Those big innocent turtle eyes, and big turtle hips can’t fool us.

The turtles still housed in Sick Bay require specialized treatment before they can move to a coveted spot in Turtle Bay. They’re part of our “colors” group, named after Crayola crayons. They all receive daily swims in our therapy pool to facilitate strength and range of motion. Several of them get along quite well and you can see them enjoying their time together.  Others, not so much, so they are scheduled for solo swims.

Now for the really exciting announcement: our gift shop has been totally renovated and it’s open for browsing and shopping. And you can visit the gift shop without taking the tour by entering through the single door to the left of our main entrance. We have all of your favorites
plus a plethora of gift items, including some from local artisans. And of course, our adoption table is open and ready for you to adopt your favorite turtle from your visit. Take home their photo, adoption certificate and, depending on level of adoption, one of our premium gift shop items. All adoption gift shop proceeds go directly to the care of our patients.

Although the spring weather appears to be trying to get here, we’re still not done with cold-stuns. At this point the turtles are not so much cold as they are severely debilitated from prior cold-stunning. This year it’s seems to have hit the larger loggerheads particularly hard. Please be our extra eyes for spotting for any turtle in distress. Don’t assume a turtle is beyond help because it can’t move. They are stunned motionless. If you spot anything unusual please call our Director of Beach Operations, Terry Meyer at: 910-470-2880. If she is not available, you may call the hospital during operating hours: 910-329-0222. We will take the information and we will meet you to retrieve the turtle that will then be brought to us for follow-up. The State of NC hotline for stranded, sick, and injured turtles is 252-241-7367. The state number picks up 24/7. Please note that all our work with sea turtles, at the hospital and on the beach, is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, ES Permit 22ST05.

By Karen Sota

After only a few short months in rehab our first group of cold-stuns, aka the “Twelve Days of Christmas Plus One” have been reduced to the “Five Days of Christmas.” Eight little Kemp’s were settled securely into tubs and hit the road for the US Coast Guard Station at Fort Macon where they had tickets for a ride to turtle-comfy waters. Joining them on the trip were turtles rehabbed at the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores and a few from New England that were flown in that day for the release. And what an enjoyable day for our volunteers who transported the critters – they were invited along on the trip – but thankfully were not released along with the turtles!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch we still have thirty patients in various stages of recovery. One of them, “Kaia” was admitted in November of 2020. Cruising around Surf City Pier probably looking for an easy lunch she didn’t think about what might be hidden in that tasty squid and found herself hooked. Still a juvenile, at just over 13 kg. she had been managing quite well on her own.

Normally hooked turtles recover and are sent home relatively quickly. But Kaia has not been that lucky. She has osteomyelitis in both front flippers in her shoulder areas severely restricting her range of motion. This infection in the bone is something we see with cold-stunned turtles, but that’s not why Kaia was admitted. It is possible that she had been a cold-stunned at some point – after all she is a Kemp’s, and they are notorious for delaying their trip south as the waters cool - just ask the New England Aquarium.

There are medications that can treat Kaia’s condition. We’ve used them successfully in the past, and she’s been receiving them per Dr. Harms’ instructions. But we know meds can have side effects and in this case it has severely affected Kaia’s appetite. She just does not want to eat, so now anorexia has been added to her list of medical issues. It doesn’t matter what we offer her, or how much time we spend coaxing her, she’s just not interested. She’s managed to maintain her weight but only with an aggressive regime of IV fluids and vitamins. And now the poor girl has air in her ears.

But there is some positive news. She now logs in for a daily swim in our therapy pool where our turtles can stretch out, work against the jets and start building back their strength. Kaia is using her front flippers to zip around! And hopefully more exercise will make her hungry enough to eat again. Although she won’t be going home anytime soon things are looking up for this lady.

Limited tour schedule begins in March. We’ve been busy over the past few months not only caring for our patients but making some exciting changes in other areas. Our gift shop has been totally renovated, and when we open to the public in a few weeks the entire area will once again be available for browsing and shopping. And by popular request you will again be able to visit just the gift shop area during tour hours. Lots of new items have been added to our standard favorites, and of course our online gift shop and adoption center stays open 24/7 so you can order our exclusive hospital
merchandise and adopt your favorite turtle(s). Check back soon to purchase tickets for tours beginning in March. Looking forward to welcoming you all back to our hospital.

Cold stun season continues. Although cold-stun admits appear to be slowing a bit that doesn’t mean we’ve seen the last of these frosty critters. At this point we’re getting the really debilitated turtles coming through our doors. And this year it’s been some very sick loggerheads. Please be our extra eyes for spotting for any turtle in distress. Don’t assume a turtle is beyond help because it can’t move. They are stunned motionless. If you spot anything unusual please call our Director of Beach Operations, Terry Meyer at: 910-470-2880. If she is not available, you may call the hospital during operating hours: 910-329-0222. We will take the information and we will meet you to retrieve the turtle that will then be brought to us for follow-up. The State of NC hotline for stranded, sick, and injured turtles is 252-241-7367. The state number picks up 24/7. Please note that all our work with sea turtles, at the hospital and on the beach, is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, ES Permit 22ST05.