The world according to me....

It's winter in North Carolina, and the water just off the beach is too cold for releases. However, the Gulf Stream is not so far away, so all that is needed is an amenable boat captain and crew to transport the turtles to warmer water. So far this winter, we have been fortunate enough to be able to release a number of rehabilitated turtles at or near the Gulf Stream. Just recently, seven turtles at the NEST rehabilitation facility in Manteo were deemed fit for release. I asked around and found out from Catherine McClellan that there was a research vessel picking up supplies and some researchers from Morehead City in a few days, and would then depart for warmer waters. A few calls and emails later, we had secured a place for the turtles on the ship. However, before we could send the turtles out, we had to outfit three of the big juvenile loggerheads with satellite transmitters. Fortunately, we had plenty of willing hands to help prepare the carapaces and hold the transmitters in place while the epoxy cured. Here is Wendy finalizing the expoxy spread that will hold the satellite tag into place:

The turtles stayed in tanks overnight, then were taken to meet the boat the following day at the DMF dock in Morehead City. It turned out to be the R/V Savannah out of Georgia.

This was appropriate given that the International Sea Turtle Symposium was to take place in Savannah in a few days. The boat crew and research team showed care and concern for the turtles from the moment we arrived, so we knew they were in good hands. After we secured their berth in one of the lab rooms on the boat, we said our goodbyes and waited for news. Not long aftterwards, I had a call from the ship: the turtles had been successfully released and were seen swimming happily away.