No Coddling Zone

First: Happy Birthday to my amazing brother Zachary! 

I miss you like crazy!

Today was a pretty routine day, but tonight I did something pretty fun!  Our friends Brayton and Leann volunteer for the turtle research program here. On Monday nights they feed and check up on the baby turtles in rehab. Guess who invited herself along! The sign outside the door said in bold letters: THIS IS A NO CODDLING ZONE. It also had useful information about not changing the temperature and sea turtle safety... Seriously though, how do you coddle a sea turtle?

One of the babies

There are three babies right now- all three washed up, dehydrated, on the beaches. Sad day.  They are Hawksbill sea turtles.  They can grow to about 3 feet in length, and on average weigh 180lbs. According to wikipedia, the largest was 280 lbs. That is roughly 2.25 Stephanies. Hawksbills are listed as Critically Endangered, which is only one step above Extinct in the Wild, and two above Extinct! That is why they need our help!

In their "feeding bins" waiting for dinner of pellets and fish. Yum!

The babies are named Marine, Gibbs, and Munchkin (in descending size order). They get feed three times a day, and they get some outside play time in the sun as well. Once they are healthy enough, they will be returned to the wild. Brayton and Leann also help out at the larger turtle facility on St. Kitts.  That's where the more grown up turtles are rehabilitated. I hope next Monday I can meet the big boy turtles! I think next semester I might volunteer my time to help the sea turtles that need saving.