2007 annual loggerhead turtle report complete

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and the state sea turtle coordinator, Matthew Godfrey, also received copies of the report, which includes a daily log of activity, copies of all stranding reports, an annual sea turtle nest management report and copies of each individual crawl record.

“This report is important because so many people on Wrightsville Beach love the turtles and want to make sure that they are still coming to our beach,” said Fahey. “When we work to make the beach a better place for the turtles, we in turn make it a better place for us,” she continued.

There were four loggerhead sea turtle nests on Wrightsville Beach in 2007. From those four nests, 391 loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings were released into the Atlantic.

The report also gives detailed stranding accounts on the six turtles found stranded this past year. Of the six, five were still alive, and of those five, three survived their difficulties. All were taken to the sea turtle hospital on Topsail Island for care. Those three survivors are now known as Lagoon, Bradley and Eight.

“We donate all of the proceeds we have received through the various fundraising efforts and personal donations to the turtle hospital on Topsail Island,” Fahey said. “Our goal is to have an in-house X-ray machine to help all of the turtles that are brought there.”

Fahey, who has been the program coordinator since 2004, has been an active part of the sea turtle project since 1995, though originally Dr. David Webster and the students of UNCW began monitoring the nesting activity. Harbor Island resident Stephanie Carter officially coordinated the monitoring efforts in 1993, and when Carter temporarily relocated to Memphis in the summer of 2001, Liz Ivens, another long-time Wrightsville Beach resident, took over as program coordinator.

In case of any sea turtle stranding, accident or injury, Nancy Fahey should be called directly at 791-4541 or 24 hours at 791-9136.

“Often times, when someone tries to take care of an injured or stranded turtle themselves, they get injured or the turtle is injured further,” Fahey warns. “We now have a standing team in place for any emergencies no matter what time day or night.”

If you are interested in any more information regarding the 2007 sea turtle nesting season, you may call Nancy or read the copy of the report at Wrightsville Beach Town Hall.