Spike In Cold Stunned Sea Turtles Rescue Seen On East End: Officials

EAST END, NY — A spike in the number of cold stunned sea turtles rescued recently has been reported, according to the New York Marine Rescue Center.

NYMRC has rescued 26 cold stunned sea turtles over the last week, "a significant number of strandings in a short period of time," that exceeds the number of sea turtles that stranded during the 2021 to 2022 cold stunned season, the group said. NYMRC has been rescuing and rehabilitating sea turtles since 1996 and in 2019 responded to the highest number of turtles.

"Based on how this season has started, we are in a position to see similar stranding numbers," the group said.

The New York cold stun season started on Saturday, November 19, when the group received a call about a green sea turtle that was found within the Quogue Canal. Since that call, NYMRC has responded to an additional 25 sea turtles. Turtles are being found throughout Long Island including beaches in East Hampton, Southampton, Northport, and Cold Spring Harbor, NYMRC said.

Of the sea turtles that have cold stunned so far this season, 80 percent have been green sea turtles. The remaining 20 perrcent have been Kemp’s ridley sea turtles, which are the most critically endangered sea turtle species in the world, the group said. When those sea turtles strand, they are about the size of a salad plate and are between 2 to 5 years old, the group said.

Cold stunning is similar to hypothermia for sea turtles, and occurs when sea turtles are unable to migrate to warmer water before local water temperatures drop drastically and sea turtles become lethargic and pushed to shore by strong winds, the group said.

The sea turtles are then brought to the NYMRC facility for an initial assessment and exam. Over the course of five days, NYMRC’s rescue team slowly raises the turtle’s internal temperature ,no more than 2 to 4 °C a day. Once at optimal temperature, turtles will be placed in larger pools with fellow tank mates and food will be introduced.

"However, it is still a long road of antibiotics and treatments ahead for these turtles," the group said. "The first 5 days are the most critical for sea turtles."

The animal care staff closely monitor the sea turtles during this time. Care of these critical sea turtles is extensive and requires our staff to be extra attentive and hands on.

Cold stunned sea turtles stay at the NYMRC for about 242 days, typically being released in late July and early August. The average cost to rehabilitate one sea turtle is $10,000.

“The NYMRC staff is so appreciative of everyone that has been walking the beaches looking for these critical sea turtles. The survival of these individuals is so dependent on how quickly we rescue them from the beach and admit into our hospital. NYMRC is dedicated to providing a second chance to these amazing animals.” Maxine Montello, Rescue Program Director at the NYMRC.