Karmactive Staff
Sea turtle strandings on Cape Cod's coastlines have grown as a result of the Gulf of Maine's warming seas.
Photo Source: Charles J. Sharp (CC BY-SA 4.0)
On December 3, 2024, more than 200 juvenile turtles who had been cold-stunned received treatment at the New England Aquarium.
Photo Source: Beyond My Ken (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Rescuers treated 40 turtles a year on average in 2010, indicating a sharp rise in strandings.
Photo Source: U.S. Geological Survey (CC BY 2.0)
In recent years, the number of cold-stunned sea turtles stranded in Massachusetts has increased from 200 to over 700.
Photo Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife
One of the ocean's fastest warming areas, the Gulf of Maine, traps migratory turtles.
Photo Source: Canadaolympic989 (CC BY-SA 3.0)
According to a 2019 study, the Northwest Atlantic's cold-stunting occurrences have risen due to ocean warming.
Photo Source: Episcophagus (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Specialized care is needed for injuries, dehydration, and pneumonia in turtles, primarily Kemp's ridleys.
Photo Source: USFWS Endangered (CC BY 2.0)
Despite increasing resource demand, the New England Aquarium maintains an 80% survival rate.
Photo Source: Chesapeake Bay Program (CC BY-NC 2.0)
According to trends, the number of cold-stunned turtles for treatment this season may exceed 400.
Photo Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife (CC BY-ND 2.0)