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Stranded sea turtles rescued on Cape Cod

E-mail|Link|Comments () December 7, 2009 04:11 PM

By Michaela Stanelun, Globe Correspondent

Fifteen sea turtles suffering from a myriad of problems, including hypothermia and malnutrition, have been rescued from Cape Cod beaches since Sunday afternoon, New England Aquarium officials said today.

Of the 15, two found on beaches from Dennis to Wellfleet had died by the time they arrived at the aquarium in Boston for treatment and rehabilitation.

Aquarium spokesman Tony LaCasse said the sea turtles, which include endangered Kemp's Ridley turtles, often are stranded on Cape beaches during their migration south. Sometimes, they fail to heed rapidly falling water temperatures, throwing off their schedule.

Staff from the Massachusetts Audubon Society in Wellfleet and volunteers comb the beaches, particularly after high tide, for stranded sea turtles, LaCasse said.

LaCasse attributed the high number of turtles rescued Sunday and today to strong northwest winds over the Cape.

"These turtles are hypothermic and basically floating in the bay, and the high winds brings them to the shore," he said.

He said it has been a slow start to the turtle migration season because of a mild November. Before Thanksgiving, only three turtles were stranded and taken to the aquarium for rehabilitation. Since Thanksgiving, 57 turtles have been rescued, and more have been found dead on the beach.

"When they come to the aquarium, all we look for is a single heartbeat per minute," LaCasse said. "With that, we can begin treating them."

Out of the turtles brought in Sunday and today, 14 were Kemp's Ridley sea turtles and one was a green sea turtle. The two turtles that died were both Kemp's Ridleys. Only 20,000 adult Kemp's Ridley turtles exist in the wild, LaCasse said.

The turtles, which range in size from 2 to 8 pounds and are 2 to 4 years old will be rehabilitated for at least two months. Some turtles may need to stay until next August, LaCasse said.

"Besides being hypothermic, the turtles are often dehydrated, malnourished, half have pneumonia, and some have trauma to their shells or flippers," he said.