Most Mothers will receive flowers, candy, dinner out, maybe a day at the spa to celebrate Mother’s Day. But today on Mustang Island, Mom’s were treated to a different kind of celebration. When Lora Eakin brought her daughter, Melissa Strickler, and Aunt, Beverly Worley to the beach for day, they saw something strange in the water. As they looked harder, Lora thought it was a turtle, but her Aunt assured her it was “fake”. But within seconds, the turtle came out of the water and strolled up to the dunes to take part in the Mother’s Day celebration.

While Mother Tortuga was headed for the dunes, she walked up behind Chris Van Bloem’s children who were playing on the beach. He turned to check on the kids and was startled by the huge turtle walking past. Savannah, Joedee and Breannah gathered around their Mom, Angela, as Chris was assigned the task of protecting the turtle from drivers on the beach. Angela had just read an article on Sea Turtles the night before in her hotel room. They just could not believe they were lucky enough to see the nesting turtle in real life. Meanwhile, Lora got in her car and drove down the beach to the sign posted that gave the phone number to call when a nesting turtle is seen. (If you see a turtle on Mustang or Padre Island, call 361-949-8173 x 226.)

Within minutes Tony Amos, Director of the Animal Rehabilitation Keep (ARK) in Port Aransas was enroute with his Turtle Patrol Volunteers and Rachael Blair from the Padre Island National Seashore. Rachael recovered 93 eggs that will hatch in 45 days and be returned to the ocean. This turtle had no previous tags indicating she had nested anywhere before, so she was given a new tag number and was entered into the Kemps Ridley turtle data base.

The turtle was released and quickly walked away from the crowd back into the ocean. Mother’s Day for me is usually sad, as my Mom passed away many years ago. But today I had to smile when all the visitors on the beach waved good-bye to the turtle as she floated out of sight and they shouted to her ”Happy Mother’s Day!”

Please join us Saturday May 17 at 10 am on Marker 35, Mustang Island to see 4 large rehabilitated turtles get released after a stay at the ARK. For more information on this story, contact Friends of the ARK at 361-332-6361.