Warm Weather Caused Deadly Trap For NJ Sea Turtles, Group Says

WEST ORANGE, NJ — For many New Jersey residents, last fall’s unseasonably hot weather was a reason to smile. But for sea turtles, who should start migrating to warmer waters in time for winter, the friendly temperatures created a deadly trap that not all would survive, a nonprofit rescue group says.

On Monday, West Orange-based Sea Turtle Recovery (STR) announced that 11 “cold-stunned” green sea turtles are on the mend after being rescued off the New Jersey coastline last autumn.

Here’s the problem, the group said:

“Sea turtles do not stay year-round in New Jersey and should migrate to warmer waters by the end of October. However, due to an abnormally warm fall, some sea turtles, including green sea turtles, failed to migrate and became cold-stunned. The sea turtles’ organ systems began to shut down due to the extremely cold temperatures, and the turtles began to wash ashore severely ill or debilitated.”

The result? Lots of in-trouble reptiles, the nonprofit stated.

“Last November, frigid water conditions rapidly moving off of New Jersey’s coast brought the largest number of Green Sea Turtles ever recorded onto our shores,” STR staff said. “Rescuers scrambled to respond to calls to help various species of sea turtles up and down the coast. All of these threatened and endangered sea turtles were in critical condition, and not all of them would survive.”

“I’d meet up with rescuers or go to the shore to pick up and stabilize one sea turtle, only to quickly leave STR again to save a newly discovered one,” recalled Brandi Biehl, co-executive officer at the nonprofit.

“The sea turtles just continued washing up, and all of them needed our immediate help to survive,” Biehl added.

Eventually, rescuers brought 11 turtles to STR, which is located inside the Essex County Turtle Back Zoo. There, the nonprofit’s two, full-time staff members began to care for the ailing animals, giving several life-saving treatments to increase their heart rate and improve breathing.

All of the sea turtles received “round-the-clock care” for several weeks until normal body temperatures were reached. But their fight isn’t over, STR staff pointed out; all of the sea turtles that were cold-stunned in New Jersey are now battling pneumonia or other illness and injury.

According to Sea Turtle Recovery, many of the turtles won’t be healthy enough to release into the wild again until late March or early spring.

• See related article: Watch Sea Turtle Released Into Ocean At Point Pleasant Beach

Currently, the injured animals are on medication and finishing treatment regimens at the STR facility, where they have a roommate: a 165-pound Loggerhead that’s recovering from blunt force trauma injuries.

A fundraising luncheon to benefit the care of these 11 turtles will be held on Sunday, March 22 at the Wilshire Grand in West Orange (learn more about this local event).

STR’s efforts got a healthy dose of praise from Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr., who said the group has been a welcome addition to the zoo.

“I applaud the efforts of Sea Turtle Recovery to help cold stranded, sick and injured sea turtles,” DiVincenzo said. “Hosting their recovery facility at Essex County Turtle Back Zoo raises public awareness about the dangers all wild animals face and the importance of conservation.”

• See related article: 15 Endangered Sea Turtles Rescued After Car Crash
• See related article: Rescue Has Saved Dozens Of Animals Since Moving To Turtle Back Zoo

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

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