The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center

The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center Dedicated to the conservation and protection of all marine turtles both on the beach and in the water Tours are available on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
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A volunteer run hospital for sick and injured sea turtles off Charlie Medlan Drive in Surf City, North Carolina. Purchase tickets online at www.seaturtlehospital.org. Link to our Amazon Wishlist. https://smile.amazon.com/hz/charitylist/ls/1XTFN4BM4BKEJ/ref=smi_ext_lnk_lcl_cl

For today’s Sea Turtle Week spotlight, it’s time to introduce the Green Sea Turtle! 🐢We’re fortunate to care for Green s...
06/14/2026

For today’s Sea Turtle Week spotlight, it’s time to introduce the Green Sea Turtle! 🐢

We’re fortunate to care for Green sea turtles at our facility, and each year we also see a few Green sea turtle nests on Topsail Island.

Pictured above is a Green sea turtle named Jonah, who stranded on December 15, 2025. Jonah was suffering from cold stunning and had suspected shark bite wounds on both the carapace (top of their shell) and plastron (bottom of their shell). After several months of rehabilitation Jonah made a full recovery and was successfully released back into the ocean on May 19, 2026. 🌊

Sea Turtle Week gives us an opportunity to highlight stories like Jonah’s while raising awareness about Green sea turtles. Learn more about how to help Greens at www.seaturtleweek.com/help. 🐢🌊

This work for protected at is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, ES Permit 26ST05.

We still have a few more sea turtle species to introduce during Sea Turtle Week! Today, we're highlighting the Hawksbill...
06/13/2026

We still have a few more sea turtle species to introduce during Sea Turtle Week! Today, we're highlighting the Hawksbill Sea Turtle.🐢

While Hawksbills can be found off the coast of North Carolina, they do not nest on our beaches and are not seen as patients in our Sea Turtle Hospital.

Hawksbills get their name from the distinctive shape of their beak. Unlike humans, sea turtles do not have teeth and rely on their beaks to catch and eat their food. The Hawksbill’s narrow and pointed "hawk like" beak is specially adapted to reach into crevices within coral reefs to catch their prey.

These sea turtles play an important role in maintaining healthy coral reef ecosystems! We are so excited to celebrate the Hawksbill sea turtle today. Learn more about how to help Hawksbills at www.seaturtleweek.com/help. 🐢💙

This work for protected at is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, ES Permit 26ST05.

Happy ! We always love a turtle release! This photo is from June 1st, when we released “Croissant”, a juvenile Kemp’s R...
06/13/2026

Happy !

We always love a turtle release! This photo is from June 1st, when we released “Croissant”, a juvenile Kemp’s Ridley turtle that came to us with a fish hook.

As you may know, we make all of the saltwater for the hospital in-house! When we make the water, we are sure to mimic the ocean conditions the best we can. We match the salinity of ocean water and even adjust the temperature seasonally so turtles are prepared for the ocean water upon release!



This sea turtle conservation work at is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, ES Permit NC2605.

Did you know . . .Our 2026 summer interns come to us from 8 different states (and Canada)? All of our summer interns are...
06/12/2026

Did you know . . .

Our 2026 summer interns come to us from 8 different states (and Canada)?

All of our summer interns are current college students or recent graduates that have a deep passion for sea turtle conservation! They started their work at the hospital in mid-May, and will be with us until early August! The interns have a variety of responsibilities during their time here, including sea turtle husbandry, giving public tours, completing intern projects, and mentoring junior interns and campers.



This sea turtle conservation work at is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, ES Permit NC2605.

For todays Sea Turtle Week post, we’d like to introduce the Loggerhead Sea Turtle!🐢Throughout the summer on Topsail Isla...
06/12/2026

For todays Sea Turtle Week post, we’d like to introduce the Loggerhead Sea Turtle!🐢

Throughout the summer on Topsail Island, most of the sea turtle nests we find belong to loggerheads. They are an important part of our ecosystem, and we also care for them as patients in our Sea Turtle Hospital.

Pictured above is Boston Creme Pie, a loggerhead sea turtle who stranded on January 27, 2026, after becoming cold stunned. Boston Creme Pie spent several months in our facility recovering from the effects of cold stunning.

We’re happy to report that on May 11, 2026, Boston Creme Pie was successfully released back into the ocean! Stories like Boston Creme Pie’s remind us why sea turtle conservation is so important. 💙

Stay tuned throughout Sea Turtle Week as we continue highlighting the incredible sea turtles that call our oceans home! Learn more about how to help Loggerheads at www.seaturtleweek.com/help. 🐢🌊

This work for protected at is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, ES Permit 26ST05.

We’re excited to officially kick off our Summer Story Time series with the Hampstead Branch of the Pender County Library...
06/11/2026

We’re excited to officially kick off our Summer Story Time series with the Hampstead Branch of the Pender County Library!

Our Junior Interns had a wonderful time today teaching the community about sea turtles and sharing simple ways we can all help protect them.

Join us for our next Story Time on June 25th at 10:15 a.m. We can’t wait to see you there! 🐢📚☀️

This conservation work for protected sea turtles at and on Topsail Island is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, ES Permit 26ST05


TBT! We Remember Eight!"Observed in distress around Figure Eight Island, turtle hauler Nancy Fahey once again took the ...
06/11/2026

TBT! We Remember Eight!
"Observed in distress around Figure Eight Island, turtle hauler Nancy Fahey once again took the plunge and rescued this sea turtle. The turtle has multiple carapace fractures. The wounds were cleaned and antibiotics administered before placing the turtle in shallow water. She will make the trip to the NC State School of Veterinary Medicine for surgery.
Eight had her carapace repaired and she was returned to the center that day.
Her wounds are flushed and bandage changed every two days and she continues to receive antibiotics. JAN 2008 Healing well, Eight remains in shallow water due to the severity of the wound. Bandages are changed every 4 days, and on those days she also gets lots of water to swim in. She has also taken to pooping just before the staff is ready to leave for the day. She loves the extra attention! JUN 2008 Her plates have been removed and thanks to the big June release she enjoys
a new tank with running water and room to move. It's time to get that right flipper moving again."
Eight was released along with 21 other recovered patients in June 2009! It took 11 trucks to get everyone to the beach.

Today's Sea Turtle Week spotlight is the Olive Ridley!🐢While Olive Ridleys are found around the globe, they are not see...
06/11/2026

Today's Sea Turtle Week spotlight is the Olive Ridley!🐢

While Olive Ridleys are found around the globe, they are not seen in North Carolina and do not come through our hospital as patients.

Olive Ridleys closely resemble the Kemp's Ridley sea turtle, a species care for in our facility. One key difference is their olive-green colored carapace (shell).

Like Kemp's Ridleys, Olive Ridleys are famous for participating in a mass nesting event known as an "arribada". During an arribada, thousands of female turtles come to shore to nest over the course of a few days to weeks.

We are so excited to celebrate the Olive Ridley today! Learn more about how to help Olive Ridleys at www.seaturtleweek.com/help. 🐢💙

This work for protected at is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, ES Permit 26ST05.

Looking for a fun and educational summer activity for your children?☀📚We've got you covered! This summer, we're excited ...
06/10/2026

Looking for a fun and educational summer activity for your children?☀📚

We've got you covered! This summer, we're excited to partner with the Pender County Library to offer a special Sea Turtle Story Time program.

Come meet our high school summer interns as they read a sea turtle themed story and share their favorite sea turtle facts they have learned throughout their internship.

Story time will be held on select Thursdays throughout the summer at the Hampstead branch of Pender County Library starting at 10:15 a.m.

We hope you'll join us for this free, family-friendly event! We look forward to seeing you there! 🐢💙

This conservation work for protected sea turtles at and on Topsail Island is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, ES Permit 26ST05 See less


As we continue celebrating Sea Turtle Week, our next species is the Kemp’s ridley. The Kemp's is the most endangered of ...
06/10/2026

As we continue celebrating Sea Turtle Week, our next species is the Kemp’s ridley. The Kemp's is the most endangered of all seven sea turtle species.🐢

Meet Oregano, a juvenile Kemp’s ridley who arrived at our facility in November 2025 after experiencing cold stunning. Oregano also suffered a boat-strike injury to their right front flipper.

Oregano has since recovered from the effects of cold stunning and continues to heal from their flipper injury. Their story serves as an important reminder of the many threats sea turtles face in the wild.

This , we're highlighting patients like Oregano to help raise awareness about the challenges these incredible animals encounter every day and the importance of protecting them.

Stay tuned throughout the week as we introduce more amazing sea turtle species!🌊🐢💙

Learn more and find ways to help: www.seaturtleweek.com/help

This work for protected at is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, ES Permit 26ST05.

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Surf City, NC

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+19103290222

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