Sea Turtle Hospital News We’re immensely proud that our work at the hospital is done literally with the blood (turtles are good a swinging those flipper around,) sweat (the building is kept at turtle comfy temps and the days can be long) and tears (mostly happy, like at the releases, some not so happy) of our volunteers. But we’re also fortunate that we have so many volunteer-staffed local organizations that...
For two evenings aberrations from Pender’s past emerged from the Historic Burgaw Cemetery to entertain and spook visitors at the annual Ghost Walk. “This year’s Ghost Walk: Ghosts from Pender’s Past was another howling success,” said Tammy Proctor, Pender County tourism director. Stephanie Key, the artistic director of the annual event, gathered actors from the community and volunteers...
Sea Turtle Hospital News Our work at the hospital has been pretty light almost since the beginning of September. We released every turtle that had been pronounced healthy, and almost no turtles have been admitted. If a patient did come in they were given a physical exam and if there were no issues they headed back home after enjoying a few complimentary meals during their short stay. We were deluded into believing that...
TOPSAIL BEACH – For the 32nd year, art and music lovers will gather in Topsail Beach, North Carolina at the Autumn with Topsail (AWT) Festival. The festival takes place, rain or shine, Oct.15 from 5 – 8:30p.m., Oct. 16 from 8:30 a.m. – 8 p.m., and Oct. 17 from 8:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. on the grounds of the Historic Assembly Building, 720 Channel Blvd. Proceeds from the festival support the Historical Society...
Sea Turtle Hospital News Every year right after Labor Day Dr. Harms brings his residents and fourth-year vet students to our hospital for some hands-on work with our patients. It’s something his students look forward to, maybe not so much our turtles. But in the end, many of them get to go home so a few days of having every scute and scale and flipper and sometimes their “interior” examined is worth...
Yes, Pender County has beautiful beaches. Yes, it's fun to build sandcastles and swim in the surf, but there is so much more to discover in the great outdoors of Pender County. During every season of the year, there are adventures to discover. Let’s start with an adventure – a marine adventure for the entire family. Ecological Marine Adventures offers groups of all ages an opportunity to learn about...
Sea Turtle Hospital News Nesting season officially ended on Aug. 31 with a big green mama turtle getting in just under the wire. With a typical incubation period of around 60 days, that means our beach volunteers will be sitting at her nest waiting for her babies around Halloween, or later. Even though your chances of seeing a mama nesting are pretty much gone there is another component of the circle of life that’s...
Sea Turtle Hospital News Our patients continue to make amazing recoveries and a few weeks ago we were able to send three of them home. And if you were lucky enough to be in town you got to see them as they made their final “walk” down the runway and into Mother Ocean. Maverick, a much-loved Kemp’s ridley finally completed his four-year rehab. Originally admitted as a cold stun he suffered one setback...
TURTLE HOSPITAL TOUR SCHEDULE CHANGING Beginning September 8th through October will we be open four days a week, Wednesdays through Saturdays from Noon – 4 PM. The admission process remains the same; you must schedule and purchase your tickets in advance for a specific day and time through our website, www.seaturtlehospital.org. And we still require masks to be worn inside the building for everyone five years...
Pender County is the backdrop of many productions Raleigh, N.C. – Filmmakers producing projects in North Carolina are on track to invest a record amount of money in the state in 2021, Governor Roy Cooper announced earlier today during a press conference at EUE/Screen Gems Studios in Wilmington. The spending amount of $409 million is the largest tally seen in the state since the creation of the North Carolina...
Sea Turtle Hospital News We’ve had a very busy summer welcoming visitors to our hospital, and we’ll continue to have public tours through the next several months. But Covid caused us to totally rethink the process: what’s the best way to make sure you have a chance to see our turtles while keeping you and our staff safe? For those of you who have visited us in pre-Covid years, or if you’re coming...
Turtle Moms and turtle babies share the beach Although our turtle mamas are still technically “on the clock” with the official nesting season continuing through August it’s their babies that are moving into the spotlight. We’re hoping that our nest count keeps climbing to that hundred mark, but now with the impending pitter patter of tiny flippers on Topsail it’s time for a quick review...
Sea Turtle Hospital News Our nesting mamas continue to come ashore under the cover of darkness. But when our patients are ready to head in the opposite direction it’s in the daylight, on an outgoing tide. Last week two Kemp’s, “Njord” and “Shamrock” along with one of the few “spice girls” still in rehab, little green “Cumin” went home. Both Kemp’s had...
Acclaimed author of Topsail Island, Mayberry by the Sea, coming to Missiles and More Museum July 22, 1-3 p.m. TOPSAIL BEACH – The Historical Society of Topsail Island and the Missiles and More Museum will welcome Ray McAllister, author of Topsail Island, Mayberry by the Sea, in an event sponsored by Pender County Tourism. Accompanying McAllister on the book signing adventure is his daughter, Lindsay Zarse, a...
PENDER COUNTY – Tropical Storm Elsa will impact the Pender County region tomorrow and into Thursday evening, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service. “On its current track Tropical Storm Elsa has the potential to produce heavy rainfall, flooding, isolated tornadoes, and dangerous rip currents as early as Wednesday night through Thursday evening,” said Tommy Batson, Pender...
Sea Turtle Hospital News Unless you’ve literally retreated into your shell you know by now that our founder, Jean Beasley has officially retired after decades of devotion to our precious sea turtles. On June 12 several hundred hospital volunteers, beach program directors, family, friends and various dignitaries assembled under a huge tent on our hospital lawn to celebrate her “release.” Maybe it wasn’t...
African American Heritage Trail launched on Juneteenth Day BURGAW – A driving tour of the Pender County African American Heritage Trail was launched today. The trail encompasses all of Pender County and includes highlights such as Canetuck Community Center, a restored Rosenwald school, the community of Edgecombe’s Manhollow Missionary Baptist Church and Sloop Point School, Poplar Grove Plantation, which...
Sea Turtle Hospital News It was the better of times and the best of times. Last week seventeen totally rehabilitated turtles went home, a mix of loggerheads, greens and Kemp’s. Some of them spent years with us and some of them were short-timers. Xena, our Warrior Princess was transported to us by sobbing volunteers who were begging Jean to save her. She had quit breathing and was literally on death’s...
Word is out that our magnificent beaches are open and ready for visitors. The people who spent last year “going to Carolina in my mind” are now here in person, along with the most celebrated visitors to Topsail, our sea turtle mamas. Nesting season officially began on May 1 and will continue though the end of August. The people you see out bounding along the sand early in the mornings are our Topsail Turtle...
Burgaw – Pender County Tourism and Pender County Parks & Recreation announce the winners of the 2021 Pender County Nature Photography Contest. “The competition in the 2020 Nature Photography Contest was outstanding,” said Zachary White, Pender County Parks and Recreation supervisor. “Once again the 2021 contest had a large number of entries submitted with photos in each of the categories...
Sea Turtle Hospital News Back in 2006 when we were at our previous location in Topsail Beach one of our very favorite patients, a Kemp’s named “Dare” spent years working toward recovery, but unfortunately lost the fight. We tell every one of turtles when they are admitted that we promise to do our absolute best to make sure they get better and get to go home. Although we couldn’t walk Dare...
Sea Turtle Hospital News We really are back. We’ve completed our first month of Covid-restricted public tours and our guests have had nothing but compliments for our new process: on-line, prepaid ticketing with scheduled times. And to make your visit even more special it’s docent-led throughout the facility with groups of only twelve. Through May we will be open on Thursdays and Saturdays from 1-4 PM....
We’re back! When our Governor began to relax the Covid restrictions on occupancy we put our carefully crafted plan into action and our hospital is again open to the public. But there are a few things you’ll need to know before you come. If you’ve been to see us before, whether in our current location or our original hospital in Topsail Beach you know that our turtles attract multitudes of fans from...
Pender County Nature Photography Contest 2021 Pender County Nature Photography Contest Rules Eligibility The contest is open to the public with the following categories: Adult Amateur; Adult Professional; 15 and Under Amateur Youth Category. All photos must be taken in Pender County between June 2020 and April 2021. Photos can be of animals, plants, landscapes, scenery, and historic structures all within Pender...
Pender County Tourism and Pender County Parks & Recreation announce the 2021 Pender County Nature Photography Contest. The contest remains open to the public. Photos will be used in published materials giving credit to the photographers and locations along with prizes awarded for winners in each category. Photos can be of plants, animals, landscapes, scenery, and historic structures all within Pender County. Entries...
