cfrw.us Blog

The bald eagle has recovered so completely that the Interior Department has removed the bird from the endangered species list. Some good things do happen now and then. Read more

Sea Turtles

We have highlighted a number of actions all of us can take to help keep the surrounding waters clean. A little extra fertilizer, a car leaking oil, a small spill when fueling a boat, spraying pesticides in a yard, not cleaning up dog waste, dropping a cigarette butt, letting a plastic bag blow away, leaving bare soil to wash away… These events may not seem important enough to worry about. That’s the problem. Pollution multiplies. Its time we all take responsibility for keeping our environment clean.

Water pollution hurts and kills many animals. Threatened and endangered sea turtles are one group of animals that share with us the local waters and the beaches where they have nested for generations. That makes them susceptible to injuries and death caused by our careless actions.

Common human-caused turtle injuries include:

· Fractures to turtles’ shells and heads caused by boat impacts.

· Entanglement with fishing line, hooks or plastic litter. Any litter can be a hazard. According to Jean Beasley, Director of the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, the Center treated a small turtle that lost a rear flipper when entangled in the remains of a beach chair.

· Ingestion of fishing line, hooks or plastic litter. Plastic and fishing line cannot be digested, so turtles can die from blockages in their digestive system and inability to feed. Or they can suffocate from trying to swallow plastic bags.

All of these injuries could be prevented if we all became better environmental stewards. Along with sea turtles, dolphins, whales, sea birds, shorebirds and other animals can also accidentally eat or become entangled in our litter.

Pleasure Island Sea Turtle Project

Luckily, many people in our community are dedicated to looking out for sea turtles. Volunteers patrol the beaches every morning from May to September looking for signs of a sea turtle nesting. Nest sites are protected and volunteers spend nights watching the nests. When the baby turtles hatch, they are guarded on their way to the ocean. For more information, check http://www.seaturtleproject.org/.

Everyone can help. Please report all sightings of sea turtles to 538-2918; if no answer call 911. Your sighting may be of a sick or injured turtle needing help.

The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center

We are very lucky to have an incredible turtle rehabilitation center nearby on Topsail Island. This center has treated and cared for about 200 sea turtles since 1996. Jean Beasley, Director, works tirelessly with many dedicated volunteers who help care for and rehabilitate sick and injured sea turtles. Unfortunately, many of the turtle injuries are caused by our carelessness.

The turtles at the Karen Beasley Center are the lucky ones; many injured sea turtles don’t have a chance—they die in their ocean habitat. For more information, check http://www.seaturtlehospital.org/ .

Help protect our sea turtles and other aquatic life–

Do your part to be the solution to water pollution!