Tracks were
found last Saturday that indicated a sea turtle had crawled into
the large wading pool at the Point on East Beach. The
turtle was spotted over the next few days in the tidal pool.
Concerns of
increasing water temperatures, lack of an adequate food source,
and not very fresh water caused the
Bald Head Island Conservancy
staff and interns to effect a rescue of the turtle.
With short
notice, several hundred volunteers, including island residents
and visitors, met at the Point at around 4:00 p.m. on July 20th
to create a human chain to encourage the turtle to exit the
wading pool and reenter the ocean. Several areas of this
large pool of water was deeper than even the tallest
volunteer.
The turtle
surfaced and was quickly cordoned off by the staff and interns
of the Conservancy. The turtle was carried to the Fire
Chief's Jeep Cherokee and placed in the rear cargo area.
The turtle was then driven to the edge of the surf and placed on
the beach. The turtle quickly moved itself into the ocean
and swam away. Cheers and applause from the crowd echoed
along the beach.
