Spring is officially here, and it’s something even sea turtles seem to recognize. In a few short weeks nesting-season officially begins and there have already been sightings of loggerheads heading toward our coastal beaches. But along with all the “coming”, we have a very important “going.” Canal, a juvenile green who has been with us for almost seven years is relocating a few hours away...

Last month, Pender County Tourism teamed up with the state’s tourism office, Visit NC, to promote the area to travel writers, travel agents, and potential travelers in New York City. With a display booth at the Jacob Javits Convention Center, we met thousands of people with thousands of questions. One of the most asked questions regarded hiking trails. “Do you have hiking trails?” “Do...

Two patients at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, greens Belle and Rosemary, had moved into a duplex tank and were getting along “swimmingly” as neighbors. And that we also suspected that Belle’s little turtle brain was cooking up some plan to supplement her daily ration of veggies. You have to understand that Belle is on the high end of the body condition scale where 1 is...

Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) are announcing the distribution of the first wave of awards – a total of more than $1.6 million – under the Endangered Species COVID-19 Relief program, funded by the American Rescue Plan. The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center was one of 21 selected sites to receive funds for expenses such as food,...

Being good stewards of our natural resources Pender County Tourism joined forces with the Topsail Island Shoreline Protection Commission and the Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce to discuss a trashy problem – plastics, glass, trash, and marine debris on our beaches, in our waterways, and on our beaches. We have a problem, and you can help us. We are asking visitors and locals alike to think twice...