I work in the field of natural resources, a statement that seems like a bad pun when I read it out loud (field, natural...never mind). I'm lucky enough to work outside near the ocean, and I've been here far too long—I meant to go to Baja in 1995—but that means I know some great people now, many of whom also work in natural resources, and THAT means that I often get to tag along on research projects, or at least these tolerant scientists put up with me hanging around like an over-zealous groupie. Some marine biologists have been dragging me around like a terrier clamped to their ankles for years.

I pay close attention to Planet Maui. I've seen some things change. One thing that's been changing lately has been the development of basking in turtles on the island of Maui. Basking, not to be confused with baking or basket-making, is when a turtle hauls up on the land to, we assume, rest and warm up.

In the state of Hawaii, Hawaiian Green sea turtles do this; they bask. They bask quite commonly on Hawaii Island. They seem to bask fairly often on the island of Oahu. They bask their heads off in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands (NWHI)—a.k.a. Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, and the island of Kauai has its share of basking turtles — though few enough that you could call them dabblers. Nobody's sure, or nobody's telling, if basking is happening on Moloka'i or Lana'i, and we're pretty sure that the poor healing island of Kaho'olawe is undecorated by baskers at the moment. Or so I'm told by people who would know.

However, on Maui we've not seen this much...until lately. Lately, I've been overhearing chatter about "sick turtles up on the land." A few people have come to me in a wild panic, worried to death that they are watching, or have watched, a sea turtle's last few moments. This came as surprise to me the first few times, as basking just didn't seem to happen here, and quite frankly we didn't know why. Given the relatively common occurrence of basking on the other islands, it DID seem a trifle odd that it didn't happen much here, but one thing I can say for sure is that we never really know what's going on with Mom Nature. Some things, events, developments just seem random. We investigate what we can and accept the rest.

Look — here's what we think we know:

Cold turtles will bask, using the sun on those big broad backs to bring their blood/body temperature up. This is probably why many, many green sea turtles bask in the NWHI— a string of atolls arcing NW of Kauai for about 1000 miles. The last of these atolls, Kure, is about 9 degrees latitude higher than Maui. The water is colder, much colder, than here, especially in the winter months. You would bask too, trust me.

Sick turtles will bask—maybe to bring their body temperatures up to help fight infection, or maybe because they are exhausted and need the support of the land and the safety of relatively predator-free beaches while they're feeling weak. Fibropapilloma virus, currently infecting an untold percentage of green sea turtles, afflicts turtles with both internal and external tumors. Turtles with this virus SEEM to bask more often, perhaps using the radiant heat of the sun to help their immune systems fight the virus.

Really pooped sea turtles will bask. There's nothing quite like being chased around all morning by a tiger shark to make hauling out on the sand look like just the ticket. Time to rest, relax, gather strength, warm up.

Underfed turtles will bask, perhaps using the heat to help support their metabolisms in an underweight state. You know how really skinny people are always cold? It's just like that. No body fat means no ability to retain heat.

Basking sea turtles should not be assumed to be nesting, as most sane and normal turtles will nest at night, and in the summer months, and far from the high tide line. A sea turtle flopped on a quiet corner of the coast with one back flipper in the water is not about to produce eggs, so if you hang around waiting to watch the great circle of life you are likely to get leg cramps and a sunburn before anything exciting happens. Turtles napping right next to the waterline plan to slip back in when they wake up or get hot or something scares or annoys them (don't be that 'something'). Turtles on a quest way up in the dunes MAY be seeking to nest, but green sea turtles don't nest in the main Hawaiian Islands very often. Hawksbill sea turtles do, but that's another story for another time—and if you are here in summer and do want to help with hawksbill nesting season, call marine biologist Cheryl King at 808-385-5464 or put your name on her email list: shezking@yahoo.com.

Let them rest. Take a picture from as far away as you can stand and then sneak away, the way you would if a baby was sleeping.

Because of the still-newness of basking turtles on Maui, NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) scientists are tracking incidents of basking, looking for trends and answers. Want to lend a hand? If you see a big snoozy turtle up on a beach around Maui County somewhere, here's what you do.

1. Don't panic. If this turtle isn't bleeding, headless or freshly limbless, or tangled in a net or choking on a plastic bag, it's probably just, you know, sleeping. Tiptoe away and don't tell anybody except these people: the NOAA sea turtle stranding hotline: 808-983-5730. Tell them where the turtle is and what time you saw it, and describe it as best you can—keep an eye open for shiny tags on flippers or unusual scrapes or scars, or things like missing flippers or other major wounds that would help ID the turtle in the future. Resist the urge too get close to see, though!

2. If this turtle IS bleeding, headless or freshly limbless, or tangled in a net or choking on a plastic bag, CALL THIS NUMBER ASAP: 808-983-5730. You can panic a little then, if you really have to, silently if possible, but it's not that helpful. Keep a cool head and give as much information as you can when you calm down enough to get on the phone.

I hope this helps. I've not given you much general information on sea turtles this time, primarily because we'd be here all day talking about how amazing they are. Here are a couple of links to fill in some general natural history information and point you toward doing something for sea turtles, if you are so inclined.

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/turtles/

http://www.turtles.org/helping.htm#accstr

Also, if you are here for more than a couple of weeks, you can volunteer with the NOAA Whale Sanctuary turtle stranding program—808-879-2818.

Remember, though, that the best thing you can do for a basking turtle is not panic: take notes, and slip quietly away. Make that phone call is out of hearing of the sleeping turtle; you wouldn't want to wake her, I'm sure.

A hui hou,

Judy*