Saving New England’s sea turtles

Ask a New Englander to name some local sea creatures and we’re sure whales and lobsters will make the list.

But did you know the region’s waters are also home to a number of sea turtles? Learn more about how to spot them and protect them – from the experts at the New England Aquarium.

Did you know?

The chemicals you use on your lawn can actually make it all the way to the ocean.

Rehabilitated sea turtles sent back home

Nearly two dozen rescued and rehabilitated sea turtles this week were released back into the wilds off North Carolina’s Topsail Beach. Hundreds joined turtle rescue hospital co-founder Jean Beasley as they cheered on the turtles as they made their way back to their natural habitat.

Many turtles had come to the hospital after suffering injuries out at sea, but last winter’s erratic temperature swings caused quite a few to end up in the hospital after being in the chilly ocean waters off the North Carolina coast.

Video provided by WNCT — please note: there is no audio.

Aquarium sends wayward turtle south

The New England Aquarium is sending the largest of the hypothermic sea turtles found stranded on Cape Cod this fall to a sanctuary on Long Island. The 75-pound juvenile loggerhead sea turtle, now named “Herb”, was found by volunteers on a beach in Truro back on December 3.  Herb was then brought to the New England Aquarium in Boston with a body temperature in the 40’s. Veterinarians and rescue biologists slowly rewarmed Herb about five degrees each day to a stable temperature in the low 70’s.

The Aquarium says Herb is one of six loggerhead turtles that washed up late this season. They averaged about 50 pounds, and all have survived. Herb is estimated to be somewhere between 4 and 7 years old, on his way to an adult weight of 200 to 250 pounds. And as you can see – he’s a little photogenic. Volunteers work with the Aquarium each year to rescue and rehabilitate dozens of stranded sea turtles.

Thanks to Tony Lacasse at the Aquarium for the photos!

Dozens of sea turtles found on Cape beaches

Stranding season is in full swing and rescue efforts are underway. At least 30 sea turtles washed ashore on Cape Cod beaches since Thursday. 19 were dead. There have been 42 stranded sea turtles reported on the Cape so far this season. The turtles that survive will be rehabilitated at the New England Aquarium in Boston before being transferred to other rehab facilities and eventually reintroduced into the ocean.

Click here to read a full article about this in the Cape Cod Times.