For the past ten years, Kill Devil Hills biggest (or at least most famous) fireworks fan has been “Riley” a 51 year old Loggerhead sea turtle. Like clockwork, Riley has crawled up on the beach near Avalon Pier to dig a nest and lay her eggs on July 4th. Unlike typical Loggerheads, Riley hangs around her nest for several hours until the Kill Devil Hills fireworks show begins.
“It’s kind of like a starter gun for her,” says wildlife specialist Michael Dundee with the National Park Service. “She heads back toward the ocean, watching the fireworks the whole way. Of course, being a turtle, it takes her awhile to get there and she’s usually just getting her front flippers wet by the time the finale starts.”
The turtle’s behavior was chalked up to a curious coincidence, that is until this year when the KDH fireworks show was postponed until July 7th. As she had in years past, Riley crawled up on the beach, dug her nest and waited. And waited.
And waited.
The next morning, Riley was still waiting, sad turtle eyes scanning the sky for signs of the pyrotechnic show. NEST officials eventually posted caution tape around the turtle to keep ignorant but yellow tape-adverse curiosity seekers from taking pictures of their children on the back of turtle’s shell.
“We tried everything to get her to go back in the water,” said Dundee. “We even set off some South of the Border fireworks we seized off some tourists from Columbia near her, but she wasn’t having it. She wanted the real thing.”
For the next three days Riley barely stirred from her perch near the dune. Her condition slowly deteriorated as she remained out of the water, refusing to drink or even eat, despite the helpful visitors who tossed her Gummi Bears and Cheetos. NEST officials briefly considered moving Riley to the NC Aquarium but realized that would require that they physically touch the turtle, which would violate their Prime Directive.
Finally, on the night of July 7th, the Kill Devil Hills firework show began. Riley’s eyes sparkled with joy as the brocades, dragon eggs and pistils burst overhead. Scooping up a mouthful off Gummi’s, Riley began her labored journey back to the ocean to the applause of the hundreds of well wishers and drunken revelers around her.
“It was a close call for Riley,” said Dundee. “I hope next year KDH will get their act together and have their fireworks show on time. Do it for America. Do it for the kids. Do it for Riley.”