Latest stranded turtle dies

Published 12:13 pm Tuesday, January 30, 2018

NEWPORT — A female olive ridley sea turtle found stranded on Sunset Beach near Fort Stevens State Park has died, staff at the Oregon Coast Aquarium reported.

Andrew Pittard, a longtime friend of Seaside Aquarium staff, found the stranded turtle on Saturday. He contacted staff member Tiffany Boothe, who met Pittard at Sunset Beach.

“When I arrived, Andrew helped me transfer the turtle to the Seaside Aquarium truck,” said Boothe. “I noticed right away that it was really active, but it was pretty red on the underside and had an injury on the front flipper. Given the waves this past week, I knew that it had gone through a really bad weather system to strand here.”

Evonne Mochon-Collura, the curator of fish and invertebrates at Oregon Coast Aquarium, met Boothe halfway between Newport and Seaside to receive the turtle. Oregon Coast Aquarium staff found the turtle’s body temperature at 54 degrees, then administered fluids and cleaned a wound.

Despite treatment efforts, the turtle died Monday morning.

“Some animals can recover and survive the event, others simply can’t. But if the animal is left in the ocean or on the beach, it will die without question,” said Mochon-Collura. “That’s why I would say to the folks out there: It is still worth making the call and the effort. If there is even a slight chance of rehabilitation the Oregon Coast Aquarium will give it our best shot.”

Oregon State University will perform a necropsy to determine the exact cause of death and for data collection. Often in long-term cold-stun cases, the organs are compromised beyond repair, Oregon Coast Aquarium staff said.

Sea turtles are not found on Oregon or Washington beaches unless stranded, which sometimes happens several times each winter. The Aquarium typically sees these extremely sick turtles in the winter, possibly due to the cold water temperatures, changing currents, and high frequency of harsh storms that wash the hypothermic turtles ashore. If you find a sea turtle on the beach, immediately note its location, remain nearby to observe it, and contact the Oregon State Police Tipline at 800-452-7888 or the Marine Mammal Stranding Network in Oregon, Washington, and California at 1-866-767-6114.