Sea Turtle Hospital News
We’re always looking to maximize our space, to get the most turtle bang per tank. So after the Coast Guard kindly transported several of our larger Loggerheads to warmer waters a few weeks ago we found ourselves with some vacant tanks.
We had a long waiting list of rehabbed and rapidly growing turtles that needed bigger homes, so they got first dibs. That left us with one big tank in a prime location (under a window) that we figured would be perfect for a sea turtle commune. We still have a lot of little Green cold-stuns under care, and they definitely needed a place to stretch out their flippers and build some muscle before their June release.
Regular readers know that, in general, sea turtles do not take kindly to communal living; it’s just not their way. We’d never ask a Loggerhead or Kemp’s to share, they’re more fighters than lovers when forced to coexist in cramped spaces. But we’ve had a lot of success over the past few years by combining Greens. That’s how we ended up with our current tank of five – “The Quints.”
So just how did we go about creating our perfect “Green” salad? We unquestionably had plenty of ingredients (Greens) for the mix, but which ones were going to work best together? Size is important; you certainly don’t want to create an environment where a larger turtle becomes a bully and chases, bites and hogs food. Temperament was also a critical factor. We have patients that are always calm, some that are always crazy and most that are somewhere in between. You don’t want one of the madcap ones swimming amok, terrorizing his tank-mates to the point where they pile on top of each other trying to hide under the pipe.
With the list of likely candidate in-hand we began by adding one turtle at a time. It was a long process because these critters came out of very small, dark-colored tanks and moved into a large (seven-foot diameter) aqua colored home. It took some time for them to acclimate to such a dramatic visual and spatial change. Each turtle was slowly introduced to the growing group and watched closely for their reaction; not only to the new tank but also around each other. A few didn’t make the cut, so they were placed back into solitary. Tough love.
Our Quints have now had about a month of group living and they’re thriving. They’ve maintained their individual personalities but have managed to bond as a family. They’re often seen snuggled together taking their afternoon nap in a sunny spot in the tank. But just in case they’re up to something when we “parents” aren’t around they’re closely evaluated on an individual basis every Tuesday.
Each turtle is bathed and examined for abrasions, or any other “things” they might have growing on them.
Then they’re weighed and measured to make sure they’re getting enough food and meeting our growth expectations. Once they’re released in June we’ll share our tracking document with our turtle vet, Dr. Craig Harms. Perhaps someday our Quints will be included in an important sea turtle research project!
Right place,
right time
We’ve had a lot of phone calls asking if the hospital is open yet. June 3rd is our official start for public tours, and we’ll be at our current location at least through the entire month of June.
If you were here over the past two weeks you may have been able to chat with us as while we sat outside with some of our babies, catching a few rays of Vitamin D. Flipper hugs to everyone who stopped by to ask about our patients, our new hospital and to put some $$$ in the donation jar.
Topsail Turtle
Project
Thanks to everyone who came out to our training sessions for beach walkers. Our coordinators are finalizing the schedules now for May 1st, the official start of nesting season. I’ll be writing an entire column soon about our TTP, our nesting mamas and the important role all island visitors play in protecting our sea turtles. If you missed the meetings but are interested in joining the TTP contact our Director of Beach Operations, Terry Meyer at topsailseaturtle@aol.com.
Until June 3rd
Visit us on our website: www.seaturtlehospital.org where we’re open 24/7/365. Keep up with the progress of our patients and our new building; follow the links to “Adopt-A-Sea-Turtle;” read or sign up for the newsletter; order exclusive hospital merchandise from our gift shop or take our “Family Giving Challenge.”
Questions, comments & e-newsletter
Contact me at: flippers@att.net with any questions, comments or suggestions. This column will appear every other week until further notice, unless we have some big news to pass along. To be added to our mailing list (newsletter, announcements, etc.), send your name and e-mail information to me at the same address: flippers@att.net.
