We’ve had quite a busy few days around the Outer Banks! Sound water temperatures have fallen below 11 degrees Celcius (about 52 degrees F). This is a critical temperature below which we see an increase in cold-stunned sea turtles. Check out our new patients!
“Grinch” CM-LLB-121225-01
A 6.4lb green from Hatteras Island on Christmas Day – already eating well!
“Hunter” CM-FGW-121230-01 Also from Hatteras Island and also a green – pictured here after getting picked up from the Roanoke Island Animal Clinic. 8.8lb
“Izzy” LK-PKD-121227-01 A 9.7lb Kemp’s ridley from Hatteras – unfortunately the birds got there before the rescuers, resulting in one damaged eye. Sea turtles with one eye are happily still able to be released.
“Joy” CM-RFM-121231-01 Found on Hatteras Island, Joy is a 10.1lb green sea turtle, very common for us to see this time of year. Just getting picked up from the vet in this photo – that’s dried algae/mud you see on the carapace.
“Kendall” CM-FGW-130101-01 An 8.5lb green turtle from Hatteras Island. Many of the smaller turtles head that way in the winter as the water stays warmer there later – looks like these guys were in the wrong place at the wrong time!
“Lucky” LK-PPC-130101-01 This petite Kemp’s ridley (5.3lb) from Hatteras Island is still very young and we’re certainly glad Lucky was found alive. Cold water temperatures are often hardest on smaller turtles.
“Morgan” CC-TWM-130101-01 Last, but certainly not least, is the 104.8 loggerhead found on Knott’s Island in the Currituck Sound. What an intrepid explorer to head so far north in the cold water! Looking a little tired here after leaving the vet clinic. Some lung congestion was noted in the xrays, so Morgan will have a round of antibiotics.
