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Six endangered sea turtles released into waters off Cape Cod after months of rehab

Hundreds of cold-stunned sea turtles wash up on Massachusetts beaches every year.

Crowds of onlookers cheered as the turtles made their way into the ocean. New England Aquarium

July 11, 2024

Six critically endangered sea turtles were released back into the waters off Massachusetts Wednesday after being saved and rehabbed by a team at the New England Aquarium.

The group included one loggerhead, one green, and four Kemp’s ridley sea turtles. All three are endangered species.

Every year, hundreds of sea turtles wash up on Massachusetts beaches after becoming cold-stunned in the ocean. The aquarium operates a rehabilitation facility, dubbed the Sea Turtle Hospital, in Quincy.

“We are thrilled to be releasing six more turtles back to their ocean home. Knowing that each of these species are endangered, it is so rewarding to see our work directly contribute to conservation efforts that help ensure these populations continue to exist,” Adam Kennedy, director of rescue and rehabilitation at the aquarium, said in a statement. “While their time at the Sea Turtle Hospital has come to an end, we are excited to follow their movements and continue to learn from these animals.”

Multiple turtles in the group that was just released have been outfitted with satellite tags, allowing researchers to track which ones survive and where they travel. Turtles tagged by the aquarium can be tracked on an interactive map.

Most of the turtles that need rescuing each year begin their journeys in the Gulf of Mexico before making their way up the eastern seaboard. These are mostly juvenile Kemp’s ridleys who move closer to shore as they feed and grow. Some travel as far north as Newfoundland, but the waters of Cape Cod Bay are full of food in the summer, and many turtles end up there.

But once colder temperatures roll in, the sea turtles tend to become trapped in the bay due to the unique geography of Cape Cod. To conserve energy, they end up floating near the top of the water and drifting toward the shore. Teams from the Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary scour beaches for the turtles, and transfer them to the aquarium’s care.

Pneumonia, dehydration, and emaciation are all common in the cold-stunned creatures. Shell fractures, skin lesions, and bacterial or fungal infections also occur. Rehabilitation takes place over the winter and spring months, and most of the turtles are ready to be released back into the wild come summer.

Endangered sea turtles were outfitted with satellite devices and released into Nantucket Sound this week. *– New England Aquarium*

The group released this week swam into Nantucket Sound as a crowd of cheering onlookers watched on West Dennis Beach. They were all initially found stranded between late November and early January.

Each year, the aquarium’s team chooses a particular theme for naming the turtles in their care. Last year’s theme was “pasta,” and this year the turtles were named for various flowers. “Wolfsbane,” “Lilac,” “Hibiscus,” “Azalea,” “White Cedar,” and “Water Lily” were released Wednesday.

A total of 394 sea turtles were rescued from the shores of Cape Cod this stranding season. To open up space at the Quincy facility, some are flown to other rehabilitation centers around the country. There are 21 turtles remaining at the Sea Turtle Hospital, and researchers are hoping to release all of them this summer.