Kemp's Ridley Rescue and Release 2014

Our stranding team was alerted on April 29, 2014 by the town police department that a fisherman hooked or snagged a sea turtle. Patrol members went to the pier to determine if they could help recover the turtle. After launching a boat, several patrol members negotiated the Lockwood Folly Inlet and made their way into choppy waters and moderate winds to the pier. The turtle was netted and recovered to the boat. It was discovered that the turtle had been previously entangled in a snarl of fishing line and the gear cast from the pier had snagged the line, but fortunately not the turtle. The turtle was brought on board the boat. The turtle's front flippers were constrained by the snarled line and appeared to be weakened by the ordeal. There appeared to be no hook or other injury to the turtle. The immature Kemp's Ridley turtle weighing about 13 pounds with a 14-inch carapace was nicknamed WAVE RUNNER. The turtle was then transported to the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Surf City. On June 3, 2014 Wave Runner was released from the hospital. Several members of the HBTP (especially those that helped with his rescue) were on hand to help release him back into the ocean. Reports are that he headed south. Maybe he's coming back to Holden Beach! Photos by Stephen Veenker

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