Hey all you animal lovers! Do you know any youth that are interested in becoming a vet some day?

Ichabod Ink is the first and only website that is 100% dedicated to kids, tweens and teens who are interested in veterinary medicine.  Through its videos, members go behind the scenes in veterinary hospitals and see what veterinarians do.  They also hear veterinarians answer questions and learn the science behind veterinary cases.  Veterinary games are also available that teach the science of animals.

Check it out at http://www.ichabodink.com/

Starting this Wednesday, Jekyll Island will be hosting the Southeast Regional Sea Turtle Meeting.  The event will hosts sea turtle researchers, patrol leaders, and animal care experts from all across the region.  Learn more at the conference website:  http://iconferences.seaturtle.org/serstm/

Stay tuned for a wrap up blog about the great meeting!

Terra-Tiger

If you’ve visited the GSTC recently, you may have had the opportunity to meet two of our newer patients: Terra-Tiger and Helio-Noel. Both of these juvenile green sea turtles came to the center in December after getting caught in dredging equipment off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida.  The more I talked about these two patients to guests, the more I realized that I knew very little about dredges and even less about their impacts on sea turtles. I did a little research on the topic and thought I would share my findings with GSTC blog followers who, like myself, might be interested in learning more about dredging and sea turtle safety.

To begin, a dredge is a machine that removes material from the sea floor. There are a couple of different types of dredges, and each is designed to accomplish a different task. Terra-Tiger and Helio-Noel encountered the dredge MV Terrapin Island, a trailing suction hopper dredge. This dredge type drags a suction apparatus that acts like a vacuum to pull up material from the seabed. Since sea turtles spend a lot of their time resting or foraging on the ocean floor, they are fairly vulnerable to being pulled into hopper dredge devices.

Dredges can do a wide variety of things, and in fact provide many services that are critical to the operation of other industries. They are perhaps best known for carving out the channels used by shipping and recreational vessels, however dredges can also be used for fishing, mining, beach renourishment, and pollution clean-up.

In the United States, dredging projects are managed and regulated by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).  In order to minimize the negative impacts dredging may have on sea turtles, USACE has undertaken multiple studies to assess the consequences of dredging.  These have ranged from collecting abundance data in areas slated for dredging activity to testing methods that disperse or remove turtles before dredging projects begin. All of these efforts have resulted in USACE developing a series of protocols and equipment designed to lessen the threats that dredges pose to sea turtles.  Some of the practices developed to protect turtles from incidental take include:

• Restricting dredging activities to certain environmental windows: sea turtles aren’t typically found in water colder than 12 °C (about 54°F), so dredging projects often take place during the colder months of the year (December-March).

• Using exclusion equipment to prevent sea turtles from getting caught in dredges: the proper use of deflectors on dredging equipment has been shown to drastically reduce sea turtle entrapment.

• Dispersing or relocating sea turtles prior to dredging:  a variety of methods have been employed to remove turtles from dredge sites, including the use of trawl nets to capture and relocate turtles inhabiting the dredge pathway. Not all methods of dispersal have been found to be particularly effective, and many may not be used due to the high financial costs they entail.

• Implementing a monitoring program to keep track of incidental take of sea turtles: many dredging vessels are required to have a National Marine Fisheries Service-approved monitor on-board to examine dredge equipment and dredged materials for entrapped sea turtles. This is how Terra-Tiger and Helio-Noel were found and brought to the GSTC.

After getting pulled through a dredge, turtles may have a variety of injuries. Terra-Tiger arrived with internal bruising, some carapace abrasions and a fracture, as well as swelling in the eyes and neck. The turtle was also pretty lethargic and in shock, which is not surprising considering the extent of its injuries. As treatment, Terra-Tiger received fluid therapy for hydration and wound cleaning and debridement. Terra-Tiger continues to receive iron supplements to help combat anemia, as well as a variety of oral medications to head off infection.

Helio-Noel

Helio-Noel came to the GSTC about 10 days after Terra-Tiger and also had a serious array of injuries. These included multiple fractures to the carapace and plastron, as well as skin and shell abrasions.  In addition to cleaning and debridement, Helio-Noel’s early treatment involved the use of a WoundVAC, a device which uses negative pressure to create an environment that promotes wound healing.  These tough turtles still have a long road to release, but have many well-wishers rooting for their speedy recovery; several employees from the MV Terrapin Island have either called or stopped by the center to check up on their turtle friends!

There is a lot more information about dredging and sea turtles available online, and if you’re interested in learning more I encourage you to check out the following resources:

USACE Sea Turtle Data Warehouse:  http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/seaturtles/

Historical review of dredging impacts and sea turtle protection: http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/seaturtles/docs/2004WODCON-Dickerson.pdf

Presentation about the impacts of dredging on sea turtles: http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/oceandumping/dredgedmaterial/upload/2009_08_27_oceans_ndt_about_15_get-science-right-dickerson.pdf

Sadie Mills

GSTC AmeriCorps Education Member

‘Tis the Sea-son for Holiday Festivities at the GSTC and Beyond!

There’s nothing better than setting out on a new adventure and jumping in feet first…  My name is Kira Stearns and I am the new Educator at the GSTC.  I moved from southeastern Minnesota where I spent the previous 3 years as a classroom life science teacher in Middle and High School.  I also had the opportunity to work with bald eagles at the National Eagle Center on the Mississippi River, which has ultimate drawn me back to animals, rehabilitation, and conservation education.  Feel free to read more about my background and what drew me to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center.  I joined the Education team in October just before the fall event, Turtleween and have since taken on the responsibilities of Special Events, Adopt-a-Sea Turtle, and in house programming.  This time of year is busy for all with a variety of holiday themed activities; and the GSTC is no different.  Beginning with Thanksgiving, the education team has been actively involved in 6 very unique holiday themed events of all sizes at the center, on Jekyll Island, and offsite.

The Holiday season began with a weekend filled with activities and events.  On Thanksgiving Day, the “Thankful Turtles” craft encouraged our guests to reflect and decorate a turtle with things they were thankful for this season.  Although the center was open for only a few short hours that day, guests enjoyed the little extra something to take with them.  As a staff, we even took a few moments for some holiday humor.

The day after Thanksgiving, while most were probably out for the biggest shopping day of the year, Nicole (one of our AmeriCorps Members) and I ventured off to Sapelo Island for a very special birthday gift.  The Lawrence family welcomed us with open arms that day to share our turtle knowledge in celebration of Nanny’s 85^th birthday.  It was while on Sapelo Island, I experienced one of what will be many firsts now living in the south of deep fried turkey.  I have to say, moving from the turkey capitol of world, that it was quite tasty!  We shared much of our turtle knowledge, but were also treated to anecdotes and memories of Nanny’s days living on Hilton Head Island as well.  The family even invited us to join in the family football game.  Although we weren’t able to stay they made sure that showed us their unique touchdown dances.  What a fantastic family and a memorable day!

The Thanksgiving weekend culminated with the annual Jekyll Island Authority’s Tree Lighting Festival outside the Club Hotel with activities, scrumptious food, music, and of course the important figure of the season, Santa.  In sea turtle holiday fashion, the GSTC offered “Turtle Wreefs” for visitors to decorate and take with them to hang on their tree or anywhere else that needed a little festive décor.  The Tree Lighting Festival gave the education staff a chance to take in the festive atmosphere, but also to converse about sea turtles and their significance to Jekyll Island.

After welcoming in the holiday season with a busy Thanksgiving weekend, December continued in its own festive fashion.  On December 6^th the Georgia Sea Turtle Center welcomed Santa’s Special Sleigh, a group of elementary students who must earn their seat by reading.  The students and teachers came from Unidos Dual Language Charter School in Forrest Park, GA, where students learn in both English and Spanish.  It was such a treat to listen and talk with the kids about the school.  I was fascinated by the interaction between the students and teachers in both languages after having studied Spanish myself for many years.  The kids were excited, many where on their very first flight, to see the center and the turtle patients.  The education staff joined them for lunch and just in time for Santa.  We even brought along our special friend, Scute!  The kids had a fun visit complete with gifts from Santa and we were blessed with great memories too.  I was so glad to be a part of such a rewarding gift of the visit the kids had to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center.

The GSTC also hosted two more holiday events on December 10^th and 17^th.  First of the two was the Jekyll Island Authority Employee Children’s party that featured our acclaimed puppet show, “Scute’s Christmas Adventure”, a visit to our turtle hospital, a holiday craft, treats and of course a visit from Santa and Scute!  The kids had a great time and enjoyed sharing their wishes with Santa.  The following Saturday, Santa visited once again for Santa & the Sea Turtles for more holiday crafts, programs, stories, and wishes.  “Scute’s Christmas Adventure” returned along with a special rendition of the well-known story, “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” that featured our sea turtle patients.  Guests had the opportunity to create Holiday cards for our turtles and to tuck them into each turtle’s stocking as well as making a holiday turtle ornament.  Many of our guests were decked out in their best holiday fashion to meet with Santa for pictures and to be sure Santa knew just what they wanted this year.  We hope Santa will grant everyone’s holiday wishes this year as many of our staff take some time to visit with their families and take some time to rest up so we will be ready to make 2012 another Turtley Awesome year!

Wishing everyone a safe and Happy Holiday season!

~Kira Stearns, Educator

Atlantic Southeast Airlines

By Cynthia Milner, rewards & recognition

The holiday season is always a special time filled with traditions. One of those traditions at Atlantic Southeast is Santa’s Special Sleigh, which takes the students of Hendrix Drive Elementary School in Forrest Park, Ga. on the field trip of a lifetime aboard one of our CRJ200 jets. Each year, the students who excel in the school’s reading program are rewarded with a spot on the trip and we visit a different city with a unique, educational venue.

This year’s trip was to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island, Ga. The trip marked the first time that many of the kids had been on an airplane, but any nervous feelings about flying quickly turned to excitement when they saw the cabin decked out with holiday cheer. Once we were in the air for the quick 35-minute flight, the students snacked on holiday goodies and sang carols, and we arrived at the Brunswick Golden Isles Airport in what seemed like just a few minutes.

Once at the airport, our great Brunswick Airport Customer Service team helped everyone off the plane and to the bus that would take us to the Sea Turtle Center. Some of our Airport Customer Service team members even came along to visit the turtles. Even as an adult, I have to say that the Georgia Sea Turtle Center is a cool place. We saw all types of turtles: big, small, old and young. The team at the Center is compassionate about their work, and you can tell that these turtles hold a special place in their heart. I think it’s safe to say that the kids most enjoyed the room that housed more than 10 turtles who were visiting the Center for rehabilitation.

After our time with the turtles, we headed out to lunch and a visit with Santa Claus before flying back home to Atlanta. All in all, it was another fun journey with the Hendrix Drive Students, and we look forward to keeping up this special holiday tradition.

Shared by Kira Stearns (GSTC Educator)