Marine Animals

Marine Turtle Strandings

Sea turtles strand on beaches due to cold stunning, injury, and disease, requiring extensive rehabilitation to survive and return to the ocean.

Key Facts

Cold stunning causes thousands of sea turtle strandings annually in the northeastern US
Strandings also result from boat strikes, entanglement, and disease
Rehabilitation for severely cold-stunned turtles can take months
Most sea turtle species are listed as threatened or endangered

Welfare Considerations

Stranded sea turtles experience significant suffering from cold stunning, injury, and the stress of being out of water. Without timely rescue, cold-stunned turtles die from hypothermia and secondary complications. Efficient stranding networks and rehabilitation centers save thousands of turtles annually but require substantial resources.

What You Can Do

Contact sea turtle stranding networks if you find a stranded turtle
Support sea turtle rehabilitation centers with donations
Reduce water pollution that contributes to sea turtle disease
Advocate for boat speed restrictions in areas with high sea turtle density