May 7, 2025

Dear Kathy,

It's the first public sea turtle release of the season! On Monday, May 12, we will release fifteen beautiful sea turtles back to their ocean home. You are invited to join us - in person or online - to cheer on Atria (pictured right) and friends as they return to the wild.

WHO? Green turtles Anthe, Antlia, Beid, Bergamot, Diya, Nosebleed, Revati, Sansuna, Snapdragon, Talitha, Tickleweed, Timir; Loggerhead turtles Atria, Azha, Yaupon.

WHAT? Sea Turtle Release!

WHEN? Monday, May 12, 2025, 9:00 am

WHERE? Broadway Street Beach Access (#5), 1700 North Shore Drive, Surf City

WHY? Because these 15 sea turtles are fully rehabilitated and ready to return to their ocean home!

PLEASE BE ADVISED:

~ Paid parking is in effect starting at 9 am. You must pay to park or have an up-to-date resident or visitor's permit. A very limited number of public parking spaces are available. Please carpool, ride your bike, or walk if possible.

Click here to access Surf City's interactive parking map.

~ Please stay off the dunes! The dunes protect our beach for the benefit of turtles and people alike!

~ This release is open to the public. There is limited beach space. Please be patient and respectful! Our volunteers will create a perimeter for the turtles; kindly stay outside the perimeter. If you are close to the front, please sit so people behind you can see. Volunteers will be available to answer any questions you may have.

~ Please pick up all trash and dispose of it properly. Trash and Recycling bins are located nearby. Let's keep our beautiful beaches clean for turtles and people!

~ ~ If we are able to connect, the release will be broadcast live on Facebook or Instagram so you can watch (or re-watch) later. If we are unable to connect live, which sometimes happens at big releases, then we will post videos after the release.

About the Turtles:

Anthe - juvenile green turtle that stranded 12/8/24 suffering from cold stunning. Rescued from Cape Lookout by park rangers.

Antlia - juvenile green turtle that stranded 12/27/24 suffering from cold stunning. Rescued from Cape Lookout by park rangers.

Beid - juvenile green turtle that stranded 12/2/24 suffering from cold stunning. Rescued from Hatteras by the Network for Endangered Sea Turtles.

Bergamot - juvenile green turtle that stranded 12/22/24 suffering from cold stunning. Rescued from the Outer Banks by the Network for Endangered Sea Turtles.

Diya (pictured above) - juvenile green turtle that stranded 12/7/24 suffering from cold stunning. Rescued from Hatteras by the Network for Endangered Sea Turtles. Had to have her rear flipper amputated because it was non-functional. Now fully healed, this turtle is an agile swimmer!

Nosebleed - juvenile green turtle that stranded 1/8/25 suffering from cold stunning. Rescued from Cape Lookout by park rangers.

Revati - juvenile green turtle that stranded 12/5/24 suffering from cold stunning. Rescued from Avon by the Network for Endangered Sea Turtles.

Sansuna - juvenile green turtle that stranded 12/8/24 suffering from cold stunning. Rescued from Cape Lookout by park rangers.

Snapdragon - juvenile green turtle that stranded 1/8/25 suffering from cold stunning. Rescued from Cape Lookout by park rangers.

Talitha - juvenile green turtle that stranded 12/23/24 suffering from cold stunning. Rescued from Ocracoke by the Network for Endangered Sea Turtles.

Tickleweed - juvenile green turtle that stranded 12/16/24 suffering from cold stunning. Rescued from Cape Lookout by park rangers.

Timir - juvenile green turtle that stranded 12/25/24 suffering from cold stunning. Rescued from Ocracoke by the Network for Endangered Sea Turtles.

Atria - juvenile loggerhead turtle that stranded 12/6/24 suffering from cold stunning. Rescued from Frisco by the Network for Endangered Sea Turtles.

Azha - juvenile loggerhead turtle that also stranded 12/6/24 suffering from cold stunning. Also rescued from Frisco by the Network for Endangered Sea Turtles.

Yaupon - juvenile loggerhead turtle that stranded 1/8/25 suffering from cold stunning. Rescued from Cape Lookout by park rangers.

These beautiful turtles and I hope to see you - in person or online - on Monday!

Best fishes and Flipper high fives,

Kathy Zagzebski

Executive Director

The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle

Rescue and Rehabilitation Center

This conservation work for protected sea turtles at KBSTRRC is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, ES Permit 25ST05.