(Note: All activities are carried out under the appropriate permits.)
By Lauren McDowell, SSC Marine Mammal Rescue Community Outreach Manager
In late 2024, Seacoast Science Center (SSC) Marine Mammal Rescue team was able to work closely with the New England Aquarium’s (NEAq) Sea Turtle Hospital to assist with the cold-stunned sea turtle season. This partnership not only strengthens our connections with local organizations but also provides valuable hands-on training for our staff. While SSC’s busy season for marine mammal rescue is typically in the summer months, our involvement during the offseason allows us to engage with these cold-blooded creatures to gain new experience and skills.
In the summer, sea turtles are common in the coastal waters of New England. When water temperatures are warmer in our area, it is ideal for sea turtles to forage. As ectotherms (cold-blooded animals), sea turtles can’t regulate their body temperature, making them vulnerable when ocean temperatures drop below 55℉ for extended periods. Once ocean temperatures drop in New England, the unique geography of Cape Cod prevents many sea turtles from swimming south to warmer waters. These turtles essentially become trapped and enter a hypothermic state, known as “cold-stunned.” These cold-stunned turtles will then wash up on Cape Cod beaches. Most of the sea turtles rescued during this season are juvenile Kemp’s ridley turtles, though loggerheads and green sea turtles are also found. All sea turtles species are classified as threatened or endangered species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, so every rescue and rehabilitation effort is crucial for future survival.
Led by Mass Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, staff and volunteers patrol local beaches to rescue cold-stunned turtles and transport them to NEAq for treatment, which is home to the one of the largest sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation programs in the world. NEAq admits hundreds of cold-stunned turtles each year to their off-site sea turtle hospital. At the facility, veterinarians, staff, interns, and volunteers provide care for conditions like pneumonia, hypothermia, dehydration, malnutrition, wounds, injuries, and frostbite.
Through SSC’s partnership with NEAq, our Marine Mammal Rescue staff has the opportunity to participate in the treatment process, which includes feeding sea turtles, administering subcutaneous fluids and immunizations, taking blood samples, performing examinations and wound care, and monitoring heart rates. Partnerships like this one, provide SSC with a valuable connection in the conservation of marine wildlife. Our collaboration with partners like NEAq also allow us unique experiences that we can then share with our community.
This season has been one of the busiest in recent years for cold-stunned sea turtles, but new admits from local beaches typically cease when temps in the bay dip below 40℉. Though many turtles are flown or driven to facilities further south when they are ready, to prepare for release, NEAq will typically keep approximately 50-80 of the more critical turtles in their care, for longer term rehabilitation. We are grateful for the opportunity to assist the New England Aquarium with this important conservation effort!
To report stranded sea turtles:
- Boston north through New Hampshire: New England Aquarium: 617-973-5247
- South Shore, Cape Cod, and the Islands: Mass Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary: 508-349-2615 x6104
To learn more about the protection of sea turtles on Cape Cod and other ways to help, visit: https://www.massaudubon.org/places-to-explore/wildlife-sanctuaries/wellfleet-bay/projects/sea-turtles.
For more information on Seacoast Science Center’s Marine Mammal Rescue program and to donate, visit www.seacoastsciencecenter.org/marine-mammal-rescue.
Keep up to date with MMR’s work at www.facebook.com/nhmarinemammalrescue and learn more about MMR’s response and rescue efforts at SSC’s Marine Mammal Rescue exhibit.
