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Topsail
Karen Sota:
So “Scute,” how are things going?
Scute:
No complaints from this little guy. But I wish you could find a way to make
“Pound” quit whining. I know she didn’t like moving from tank to tank and
having to come out every day. We all thought that once she got her permanent
tank she’d shut up. Now she’s just going on and on about not getting enough
attention. Some turtles are never happy.
KS:
Are you, happy?
S:
Now I am. But last November I was one sad turtle. I couldn’t do anything but
float around. I had no energy, and I was losing what little body heat I had left
to the cold water. I was just waiting for the angels to come for me. And one
did, but it wasn’t the kind of angel I was expecting. Thank goodness, because
honestly, I was not ready to go!
KS:
You were lucky that our turtle vet, Dr. Harms was up at C-MAST when then they
brought you in because he knew just how to take care of you until you could get
here.
S:
I don’t remember much about those first few days, except feeling like I had
the weight of the world on my shoulders.
KS:
Actually, what you had on your shoulders, and carapace, and plastron, and
flippers and head was three pounds of barnacles!
S:
What??
KS:
Yep, three pounds.
S:
But that’s almost half of what I weigh! No wonder I had to work so hard to
swim and dive for food. I was literally being dragged down. I had the
aerodynamics of a block of cement.
KS:
Not exactly sleek like a turtle should be. It took some scrubbing and a lot of
time recuperating in fresh water before the last of those nasty critters finally
relinquished their hold on you.
S:
I remember my flippers being really sore at all the places they were attached to
my skin. Is that why Miss Jean kept poking me with needles, and y’all kept
putting goopy stuff on me?
KS:
You were getting ointment on your wounds and shots of antibiotics to keep away
infection and pneumonia. Luckily, you were very cooperative in one important
way.
S:
What’s that?
KS:
You ate well.
S:
I’m a foodie; I just love to eat. Do you have anything over here that I can
munch on? A crab leg maybe, or a piece of squid? What’s in that bag?
KS:
You just ate! And some nice visitors who just came by to look in the windows
dropped off that bag. It’s got a few goodies for us humans, because they
wanted to thank us for all we do. And they threw in some “green” for our
Greens.
S:
But we’re the real reason you get all the other stuff, right?
KS:
Well, if you mean like donations, medical supplies and fish, yeah.
S:
Guess what - I know how I got my name.
KS:
You do?
S:
Yeah. When I came in you all said: “He’s cute.”
KS:
I think maybe we said something like “let’s call him Scute.”
S:
Whatever. I’m still cute.
The
Join our
Topsail Turtle Project
There’s still time to become part of our
continuing efforts to preserve and protect our precious sea turtles and their
nesting grounds.
There are four training sessions scheduled for new
volunteers (returning volunteers are welcome but attendance is not required.)
The training dates are: Thursday, April 10 7-9 p.m.; Monday, April 14 2-4 p.m.
and Wednesday, April 16 7-9 p.m..
Training will be held at the
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 1.
For more information you can contact Terry Meyer,
Director of Beach Operations at: 470-2880.
Questions
or comments about this column? Contact me at: flippers@embarqmail.com
(Karen Sota is a volunteer at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, a.k.a. the turtle hospital. For more information on the sea turtle hospital go to www.seaturtehospital.org.)
A
good day in the great outdoors with Capt. David
Hi folks, Capt. David here with this week’s outdoors report. Well what
can I say about the fishing! If the weather would cooperate it would improve
daily but the way the weather around here in the spring is, who knows?
One day you can catch some fish and then a front blows through and shuts
them down. It keeps the offshore folks from going and even fishing in the sound
it’s hard when the wind is blowing.
Anyway, I would like to remind you folks that all the bait and tackle
shops around have new shipments for the season and now is the time to beat the
crowds for some good deals.
Hanging out at the tackle shop is a great way to learn new tactics and
maybe find yourself a new honeyhole. Fishermen are by nature rather boastful
about what they caught and usually let little hints slip about where they caught
fish. Plus the employees at the shops are fishermen as well and want you to have
a good time. If you don't know a lot about saltwater fishing they will be glad
to provide you with tips on baits, rods, and where likely spots you can catch
whatever you are after. You can't beat local information folks.
All of those King Mackerel tournament guys have locals wherever they go
so they can get info from. Over the years I have learned more by listening than
any book can teach you!
If you haven't made sure your rods and reels are ready, it's getting down
to crunch time ya'll. Fire the boat up and check it over too. Oh, don't forget
the trailer either.
On the hunting side last Saturday was youth turkey day and I hope
somebody took their kid out and got a bird.
This Saturday is opening day for Mr. Longbeard and I'm counting the hours
now! Folks be careful in the
Well folks that’s about it for this week, so be safe and take a kid
with you!
(Capt.
David Baxley runs the inshore fishing charter Headhunter out of