Stay Eat Events Weather Beaches

Stranded Sea Turtle Dies In Spite of Rescue - N. Oregon Coast, Rockaway Beach

Published 01/25/2019 at 6:53 PM PDT
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

Stranded Sea Turtle Dies In Spite of Rescue - N. Oregon Coast, Rockaway Beach

Latest Coastal Lodging News Alerts
In Seaside:
Includes exclusive listings; some specials in winter
In Cannon Beach:
Includes rentals not listed anywhere else
In Manzanita, Wheeler, Rockaway Beach:
Some specials for winter
In Pacific City, Oceanside:
Some specials for winter
In Lincoln City:
Some specials for winter
In Depoe Bay, Gleneden Beach:
Some specials for winter
In Newport:
Look for some specials
In Waldport
Some specials for winter
In Yachats, Florence
Some specials for winter

(Rockaway Beach, Oregon) – Seaside Aquarium crews were called to help rescue a stranded sea turtle in Rockaway Beach on Thursday morning, but Friday the sad news came the turtle did not make it. (Photos courtesy Tiffany Boothe, Seaside Aquarium).

Strandings of these creatures become more regular this time of year on the Oregon coast.

“At 9 am, we received a call of a sea turtle found at Rockaway Beach,” said the aquarium’s Tiffany Boothe. “The turtle is a male Olive Ridley sea turtle that was barely moving due to the cold. Staff at the Seaside Aquarium were able to get it off the beach to begin warming it up.”

Only two places in the region can deal with the rehabilitation of rescued sea creatures: Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport and Seattle Aquarium. This one was sent to Seattle for help, and Seaside staff were hopeful for its survival and eventual release back into the wild.

Then the aquarium found out the news today, the morning after the rescue.

“Unfortunately, despite everyone's best efforts the sea turtle did not make it,” Boothe said. “We would like to take the time to thank everyone for their well wishes and a special thanks to both the Seattle Aquarium and the Oregon Coast Aquarium for all of their hard work and efforts in rehabbing sea turtles found on Oregon and Washington beaches. Another thank you to Don Best for his quick reporting of the stranded turtle.”

The Olive Ridley sea turtle – known as Lepidochelys olivacea – is named for the green color of its shell, which is heart-shaped. It is one of the smallest species of sea turtle.

Experts say ocean conditions are causing these creatures to strand because of currents that trap them in the wrong temperature. The turtles may be following warm water, but those currents are surrounded by cold water.

According to Jim Burke of Oregon Coast Aquarium, this puts them in a difficult situation.

“Once the warm water dissipates, they become hypothermic and go into a hibernation-like state, called brumation, and they can no longer navigate or survive,” Burke said.

Burke said reptiles can slow their metabolism, which allows a window of time when they can be rescued, rehabilitated and successfully released.

“Strong south, southwesterly winds drive warm currents further north; sea turtles often follow these warm water currents and when they dissipate the sea turtle finds itself in water that is too cold for them,” Boothe said. “They get hypothermic and end up on the beach. The quicker these turtles are found and taken off the beach the better their chances are. In the next few weeks, people walking the beaches of the Oregon and Washington coast should keep a look out for these guys.”

All species of sea turtles are protected under the Endangered Species Act.

These turtles’ natural habitat has a temperature of about 70-85 degrees, but these poor critters wound up in water that was less than 50 degrees.

Oregon Coast Lodgings in this area - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours



 




Other Olive Ridley rescues from the past, courtesy Seaside Aquarium




More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging.....

More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining.....

 

Oregon Coast event or adventure you can't miss

 



Coastal Spotlight


LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles

Oregon Coast Photo Contest Opens: Win $250 for a Shot of Florence
Deadline Nov 15, open to 20 miles around town. Yachats, weather
Ghost Forest of Hug Point, Near Cannon Beach: 4,000-Year-Old Oregon Coast Rarity
Found at Arch Cape and Hug Point. What actually is their origin. Geology, sciences
Florence's Exploding Whale Memorial Celebration Gets Early Start on Oregon Co...
November 10 at Homegrown Brewery and Siuslaw Museum. Florence events, south coast events
Alerts: 27-ft Waves Possible S. Oregon Coast, Sneaker Waves Into OR / Washing...
Massive waves south, significant sneaker waves north into Wash
Seaside in November: N. Oregon Coast Holidays 2024 Include Parade, Tea, Wine
Holiday Bazaar, Holiday Treasures, Seaside Parade Lights, Holiday Afternoon Tea, Wine Walk. Seaside events
New to Oregon Coast Vacation Home Scene: Latest Finds in Neskowin, Pacific City
Four new vacation rentals in Neskowin and Pacific City. Pacific City hotel reviews, Neskowin hotel reviews
Sizable Magnitude 6.0 Quake Off Oregon Coast, Aftershocks Possible
No tsunami but among strongest in years. Sciences
Newport Gets New Sea Jelly Tanks and Glowing Tanks at Oregon Coast Aquarium
Sea nettles, seahorses, lionfish, blue blubbers and glowing stuff

Back to Oregon Coast

Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net
All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted

Oregon Coast Lodging
Rentals
Specials

Dining

Events Calendar

Oregon Coast Weather

Travel News

Search for Oregon Coast Subjects, Articles

Virtual Tours, Maps
Deep Details