Network for Endangered Sea Turtles

Sea Turtle Rehabilitation

      The Network for Endangered Sea Turtles (N.E.S.T.) in conjunction with the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, maintains a sea turtle rehabilitation facility. This facility was built by N.E.S.T.with donations from volunteers, a grant from the Outer Banks Community Foundation, and cooperation from the Aquarium.

     The N.E.S.T.Rehab Facility is staffed jointly by N.E.S.T. volunteers and Aquarium staff.   Rehab Facility is NOT open to the public due to the sensitivity of the turtles in the Facility.

Sea Turtle Devotees Improve the Rehab Facility

     For the second consecutive summer, the N.E.S.T. Rehab facility has experienced upgrades that benefit both the sea turtles and the N.E.S.T. volunteers!

     In 2010 Kathy and Al Fitz along with Carolyn Leopard performed a major interior rehab cleaning, reorganization, some replacements, and painting. Needing a bit more height and humor on the painting team, Jonny Springfield came onboard. The majority of the project was covered by donations from Kathy’s mother Phyllis Jaques, Carolyn’s friends Chris and Dennis Stadter, and the Home Depot.

This 2011 summer has brought three much-needed upgrades:

     Tank dividers for the 3 large tanks were created by a committee of Rehab volunteers: Terry Brown (committee head), John Jenkins (construction head), Rita Jenkins, Kaye Lyerly, and Linda Turowski. North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island (NCARI) aquarist Christian Legner served as consultant, advising on the adaptation of the divider plan used by the Virginia Aquarium in Virginia Beach to the appropriate design for N.E.S.T. Rehab. Christian also reviewed all materials used regarding durability in tanks of salt water and safety for the sea turtles.

Thanks to this group, the turtles will be separated by movable and removable vinyl fencing attached to pvc tubes instead of floating in plastic bins. No more busy turtles escaping into the next turtle’s area! NCARI provided the $75 needed for purchasing materials and also donated the pvc tubes.

     
The entrance to Rehab, 15-year-old double doors and rotting frame, will not be letting in the cold wind this winter. NCARI purchased beautiful, durable new doors and frame/jam ($570) and had them installed by Spencer Cooper, an assistant aquarist on staff.








And… Rehab Volunteers will have no visual problems while cutting fish and writing in the log. There are four new fluorescent light fixtures in the ceiling, purchased by NCARI ($700) and installed by Tony Wilcox (operations department) and his crew.







Thank you to all those who donated money, time, and labor to these improvements, especially aquarist Christian Legner for recognizing the needs and spending time writing requisitions. Also NCARI for finding space in their budget. Rehab just keeps getting better!


                                        Get the latest Rehab Report 6-6-11

    N.E.S.T. receives cold-stunned turtles found during the cold-water months and injured turtles found year round. Found turtles are first evaluated and treated by a veterinarian and then transferred to Rehab Facility where the turtles are nursed back to health.

     The goal of the Rehab Facility is to get the turtles sufficiently healthy as soon as possible so that the turtles can be released back into the ocean.