If you see a nesting turtle, hatchlings, or know of a turtle emergency or stranding please use the PISTP Hotline 888.290. They had no idea there were so many people who loved sea turtles as much as they do. Susi and Rusty were surprised at the overwhelming support they received from the community. In 2001 the volunteer program was officially put in place to help Susi and Rusty with nest monitoring and in 2003 “The Pleasure Island Sea Turtle Project” was born and became incorporated as a non-profit organization. They were hooked for life.įor many years it was just Rusty and Susi but along the way they gathered others that were just as interested in helping save the sea turtles as they were. They did finally find one that season and the excitement was overwhelming. They were told it looked like a single tractor tire track coming out of the water and going back in. Neither of them had ever seen a real crawl. It didn’t take long before she realized that she couldn’t do this by herself so she drafted her husband Rusty who was willing to help but just as inexperienced as Susi. At first she walked the three miles of beach every morning alone searching for signs of nesting turtles – something that she had only seen in pictures.
In 1987 with newfound knowledge and permit in hand Susi began her first season as sea turtle monitoring coordinator of Kure Beach. Being the country girl that she was, Susi was somewhat reluctant but Charlie persisted promising to teach her all she needed to know about sea turtles. Caswell Beach Turtle Watch Emergency Phone 91 Please call if you see: a mama sea turtle, a wandering hatchling, or a stranded/injured sea. These volunteers are supervised by program members who hold permits from the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.
After many conversations with Susi about animal conservation, Charlie mentioned that Kure Beach was in need of a coordinator and thought Susi would be perfect for the job. The Caswell Beach Turtle Watch is a private non-profit program staffed by volunteers.
Charlie was also the sea turtle monitoring coordinator of Figure Eight and Hutaff Islands. She befriended many people including school teacher Charlie Baker. In 1986 Susi Clontz was working at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher.
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