Wildlife

Mass Turtle Strandings on Cape Cod

Wildlife rescue volunteers in Cape Cod have become overwhelmed during the past month by the nearly 1,200 stranded sea turtles that lingered too long this fall in the cooling waters of the North Atlantic.

Nearly all were young Kemp’s Ridley turtles, the most endangered turtle species, and were in a state of shock from exposure to the cold.

“Cold-stunning events are really hard things to explain,” Oregon State University biologist Selina Heppell told The New York Times.

“They are caused by local conditions, such as sharp changes in temperature, but the role of currents and turtle behavior and condition prior to the events are not well understood.”

Once rescued, the turtles were taken to the Wellfleet Audubon Society and the New England Aquarium for further treatment.

Many have since been driven or airlifted to other aquariums as far away as Texas for safekeeping until they are healthy enough to be released.