8 Sea Turtles Rescued On Cape Cod As Cold-Stunned Season Begins

WELLFLEET, MA — At least eight sea turtles suffering from hypothermia were rescued on Cape Cod beaches over the last week, according to officials with the Mass Audubon Society.

Officials said seven Kemp's ridleys, the world's most endangered sea turtles, were rescued from beaches from Brewster to Orleans last Tuesday. Another Kemp's ridley was rescued at Beach Point in North Truro Monday.

During the fall and winter months, it's common for sea turtles to suffer hypothermia-like symptoms and become cold-stunned as water temperatures decrease.

"Each fall, hundreds—sometimes many hundreds—of sea turtles can wash up on the beach, the society said in a statement. "Most of these turtles are critically endangered juvenile Kemp’s ridleys, the smallest sea turtle species. Later in the fall, larger loggerheads can strand. Even though they may appear dead, many of these turtles are in fact alive.

The sea turtles will be treated at the New England Aquarium's Animal Care Center in Quincy and at the National Marine Life Center in Buzzards Bay.

Anyone that finds a stranded sea turtle was asked to move it above the high tide line, cover it in dry seaweed and call the society's 24-hour hotline at 508-349-2615, extension 6104.