2024-01-23 16:14:00
Several sea turtles are dead following scientists discovered them stunned cold on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, on Monday.
The North Carolina State University Center for Marine Sciences and Technology (CMAST) initially took in 109 sea turtles from Cape Lookout – a barrier island at the southern point of the Outer Banks.
The animals were cold-stunned which means they were struggling to swim and eat, according to a Facebook post from the Cape Lookout National Seashore.
Cold-stunned sea turtles waiting for examinations.CMAST – NC State University Center for Marine Sciences and Technology/Facebook
“Unfortunately, only 36 [sea turtles] survived,” CMAST shared on social media. “Deceased turtles will be necropsied and used for research. Surviving turtles are being examined and treated at CMAST.”
When sea turtles encounter a quick change in water temperature, they can become cold-stunned. This issue is especially prevalent around the Outer Banks, where the warm Gulf Stream waters are adjacent to cooler ocean currents. Even when migrating to warmer waters during winter, sea turtles remain at risk of exposure to perilously cold temperatures.
“Sea turtles are ectotherms, which means their internal body temperature is regulated mainly by the temperature of the water around them,” the Cape Lookout Facebook page shared. “When they leave the Gulf Stream, turtles can become lethargic and hypothermic in the cooler water.”
After the initial examination, the surviving turtles are expected to be rehabilitated at the North Carolina Aquarium and the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center before being released back into the wild.
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