Two men from Frisco talked about the intrepid work of a small band of volunteers and their work to save cold-stunned sea turtles on the show that was broadcast on Sunday, Dec. 7, on the Radio Hatteras interview program, “To the Point.”
“To the Point,” which is hosted by Island Free Press editor Irene Nolan, airs on the island’s community radio station, FM 101.5 and FM 99.9, at 5 p.m. on the first and third Sunday of each month. It is repeated on the second and fourth Sunday.
The guests for the interview were Lou Browning and Frank Wells, both of Frisco.
Browning, who is a wildlife rehabilitator, began the effort with cold-stunned turtles 15 or 20 years ago, working with the state Wildlife Resources Commission. Frank Welles joined him when he retired and moved to the island about 10 years ago.
Today, they work under the umbrella of NEST, the Network for Endangered Sea Turtles, which is based in Kill Devil Hills.
With a group of helpers, Frank — the Hatteras Island coordinator for NEST — and Lou patrol the soundside shoreline to find sea turtles that are stunned by the cold and motionless but can still be saved.
This winter-time work is every bit as important to preserving and protecting the species as is the protection of nests and hatchlings in the summer.
Browning and Wells patrol the shoreline anyway they can — by foot or by kayak –especially when the wind is blowing really hard from the northwest after the passage of a cold front. Frank, however, insists the work is “really fun.”
There’s a lot of shoreline to cover on Hatteras, so volunteers are always needed. There is not a lot of training involved, and volunteers can patrol the shoreline or help transport the cold-stunned turtles to the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, where they recover in a new rehab facility. NEST volunteers also sometimes meet drivers half way.
If you listen to the interview and are interested in helping, please call Browning at 252-475-4217 or Wells at 252-995-2417.
For more information on NEST, go to the website, http://www.nestonline.org/. The NEST hotline for reporting incidents is 252-441-8622.
Scroll down to the “To the Point” logo — an aerial photo of Cape Point — and click to listen to the audio of the show.
MORE ABOUT ‘TO THE POINT’
On the show, IFP editor Irene Nolan will be interviewing newsmakers about the events and issues that affect all of us who live on Hatteras Island and those of us who love to visit here.
“You can expect to hear from folks who are making the news, those who are decision-makers, and some who are just plain interesting to talk to about the island and its past, present, and future,” she says.
Because the station’s all-volunteer staff and small budget are stretched tight, the show is pre-recorded. At this point, listeners cannot call in questions.
Also, the station can be received only on Hatteras Island, though the board of directors of the community, non-profit hopes that funds can be raised soon for online streaming of the programming.
For now, the audio will be posted the week after the interview so Island Free Press readers who missed the show or who do not live on Hatteras can listen in.
You can let Nolan know about folks you would like her to interview and suggest questions to ask. Send your ideas to editor@islandfreepress.org.
MORE ABOUT RADIO HATTERAS
Radio Hatteras is our community, non-profit radio station and depends on grants, memberships, and underwriting.
It broadcasts around the clock with news — including such things as surfing and fishing reports — community announcements, music, and special programs.
Our community radio station also needs your support, and you can give that by purchasing a membership or by underwriting the station if you are a business or another community non-profit.
Radio Hatteras memberships are $50 for a family, $25 for an individual and $10 for a student. Mail memberships and other contributions to Radio Hatteras, P.O. Box 339, Frisco, NC 27936.
E-mail info@radiohatteras.org or call (252) 995-6000 for information about underwriting opportunities.
You can read more about Radio Hatteras and its music and programs on its Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/radiohatteras.
The new Radio Hatteras website is http://www.radiohatteras.org. There’s information on memberships, underwriting, and programming, among other things.
Radio Hatteras wants to publicize community events. You can send them at least two weeks in advance to psa@radiohatteras.org.
If you have a special request for a song, you can e-mail it to studio@radiohatteras.org.
If you have news, you can send it to news@radiohatteras.org.
