<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0dWqbt_0wF0OEIZ00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0dWqbt_0wF0OEIZ00" width="986" height="555" >Thousands of people visit Emerald Isle in the summer, enjoying the beautiful beaches.Starting in mid-May turtles come to the surface and make nests for their babies to find the ocean around 60 days later.North Carolina has a variety of organizations to help ensure the safety of those nests, including the Emerald Isle Turtle Patrol.The Turtle Patrol just saw their last nest hatch about two weeks ago along the 13 mile stretch of Emerald Isle Beaches. But just because this year’s season is over, does not mean the work is done.<blockquote>We are always preparing for the next season</blockquote>Dale Baquer has been a volunteer with the Sea Turtle Patrol for 16 years.She says that protecting the turtle nests is their way to give back.<blockquote>We have so much human interaction on our beach, so we have lights from the homes to contend with, fisherman, and then just the noise from all the visitors.</blockquote>While they no longer have to monitor the beaches for hatchlings, they are still working to protect the turtles, especially as it gets cooler.<blockquote>If you see a turtle, even if they look dead, please call us immediately, cold stuns often present as being deceased, but if we can get them in and they get warmed back up slowly, a lot of times they are releasable.</blockquote>During these cooler months, their focus becomes rescuing turtles that are sick or injured.They collaborate with the Center for Marine Sciences and Technology.<blockquote>Once we find a turtle that’s still alive, we’ll take it to CMAST, and they’ll do initial treatment.</blockquote>From there the turtles are either released, taken to the Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium, or if they are in need of longer-term care, The Karen Beasley sea turtle hospital.<blockquote>They’ll nurse them back to health and then release them as soon as possible.</blockquote>This year weather was a big impact on nests.King tides washed away nests throughout NC, Including 2 here in Emerald Isle.<blockquote>We were pleasantly surprised that some of the nests that had gone underwater a few times, we thought we had lost ended up hatching, so we ended our season with a 65% hatch rate, so we were very happy about that.</blockquote>Even with the weather damage, Hatch rates were just about average this year.Baquer wants to remind people to call them right away if you find a turtle, even if it appears dead. The cold stuns she described can make the Turtles appear deceased even when they aren’t.</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

Emerald Isle Turtle Patrol wraps up season, continues conservation efforts

Thousands of people visit Emerald Isle in the summer, enjoying the beautiful beaches. Starting in mid-May turtles come to the surface and make nests for their babies to find the ocean around 60 days later. North Carolina has a variety of organizations to help ensure the safety of those nests,...