SEAsons Greetings :-]

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Helping Out In Husbandry

This past month has provided many hands on opportunities in helping out with husbandry at the GSTC. I thoroughly enjoy helping out as I learn so much while doing so!

On December 19th, I helped Steven as he removed medihoney from the boat strike wound along the spine of Emma and administered her dry-vacuum therapy. Her name is short for Emerald as she is a green sea turtle. Green sea turtles are vegetarians and their fat is dyed green from all the chlorophyll they consume.

On December 16th, I assisted with getting Talbot ready for his potential release. Talbot was given a satellite transmitter, flipper tags, and a pit tag. I was thankful there were several helpful hands as I administered my first pit tag (it is quite an intimidating first-time task). Talbot is a sub-adult male loggerhead sea turtle that had marine debris wrapped around his flippers causing a loss in circulation. We had to amputate about four inches of his right flipper.

On December 10th, I helped Jessica with Griffin's weight-belt therapy. Griffin has experienced an event similar to a human stroke therefore forgetting how to be a sea turtle. His weight-belt, which was fashioned by Georgia Tech (and is coincidently yellow and black), helps neutralize his buoyancy. This allows Griffin to more easily be able to dive and stay submerged.

I love my job!!

Christmas Time is Here!

Even if it is 70 degrees outside, holiday cheer is in full force here on the island! The palm trees and cottages are decked out with lights, wreaths, and ribbons. The festivities started with the Jekyll Island Tree Lighting Festival. I had a great time as my parents were in town, Scutes Christmas Adventure puppet show and the sea turtle "wreef" craft were both a big hit and several third grade sea turtle experts impressed us with their knowledge from the STEP Program. There were fireworks after the tree lighting. It was quite different to watch fireworks while listening to Christmas songs and wearing my heavy jacket!!

I have also enjoyed getting to learn about Hanukkah as one of my friends on the island is Jewish. We had a fun time the first night of Hanukkah playing with dreidels and making yummy dreidel cookies.