The Georgia Sea Turtle Center opened on June 16, 2007, making this Saturday, our 5^th Anniversary! In the past five years, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center has accomplished quite a bit while working towards our mission of using sea turtle rehabilitation, research and education programs to increase awareness of habitats and wildlife conservation challenges, promote responsibility for ecosystem health and empower individuals to act locally, regionally and globally to protect the environment.

Truck, the sub-adult loggerhead sea turtle, being released back into the ocean after being in rehabilitation for debilitated turtle syndrome at the GSTC!

In the last five years, over 1700 turtles, including over 300 sea turtles, and over 100 birds have been treated at the GSTC. We have treated sea turtles from seven different states and transferred four non-releasable sea turtles to aquariums throughout the country.  These transfers showcase the Georgia coast as part of the exhibit and allow the message of sea turtle conservation to reach areas of the country that would not otherwise be possible. In addition to sea turtles, our diamondback terrapin road mortality study and conservation program has saved the lives of hundreds of nesting female terrapins and allowed us to release hundreds of terrapin hatchlings into the marshes of Jekyll Island.  Our research department has expanded to include studies on American alligators, box turtles, rattlesnakes and wildlife baseline assessments.

Along with rehabilitation and research efforts, the center has focused on educating and spreading the message of conservation. Over 500 schools have come to the center for in house programs reaching over 34,000 children. In addition, over 500,000 citizens have been educated in environmental education and stewardship through visiting the center. There are currently 38 different environmental education programs offered by the GSTC.

Volunteer Robin Damrill educates about sea turtle conservation during an early morning Nest Walk.

None of these achievements would have been possible without our dedicated staff, over 80,000 hours of service to the center from our AmeriCorps members and over 200 volunteers who have contributed more than 27,000 hours to the center.

Thanks to everyone that has played a role in the last five years of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center! We are looking forward to many more years of sea turtle conservation, research and education!

Caitlin Sampson                                                                                                                                     Volunteer Program AmeriCorps Member

Here at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, we work with many types of turtles besides sea turtles.  One such species is Terrapene Carolina, or the Eastern Box Turtle.  Box turtle research helps us learn more about human-wildlife interactions, especially development, and how native species are affected.

Displaced and injured box turtles are admitted to the GSTC for rehabilitation and potential release. We also have an outdoor, educational box turtle exhibit viewable by the public that visits our center.  Some of the box turtles in our exhibit have been able to reproduce and lay eggs within our exhibit. These hatchlings are then raised for about two years in captivity to get some size on them so predation is less likely.  After two years, our research department releases these turtles with radio transmitters to track their movements and survival compared to the native population found on Jekyll Island. Box turtle surveys are also being conducted on our island to gather information about their presence, abundance and habitat associations. To help with our box turtle survey efforts, we have welcomed a new volunteer to the GSTC team!

Roscoe, the GSTC’s first K9 volunteer, came to the GSTC by way of the Animal Rescue Foundation of Wayne County.  He had been adopted once and returned because of his high energy level.  That level of energy and focus makes him a great working dog. Roscoe is being trained by GSTC volunteer Lyn Parsons to find box turtles on Jekyll Island as part of the GSTC box turtle survey efforts.  Lyn has an extensive background in K9 Search and Rescue and dog training and has become an integral part of our education and research departments during her volunteer time at the center! Tracking box turtles can be a time consuming and very difficult task as they are excellent at hiding and digging beneath leaves and other brush. Being able to have a dog on the team makes it a faster and more efficient process.  Roscoe loves his job and the praise he gets for a job well done.  The GSTC gained a great asset when Roscoe became a member of the team.  With Lyn’s expertise and Roscoe’s nose and energy, the box turtle program has been a great success.  His training is going great and he loves the extra attention he gets!

Caitlin Sampson                                                                                                                                     Volunteer Program AmeriCorps Member