This time of year sea turtles are known to wash up on Oregon and Washington beaches. Officials are asking the public to keep an eye out for the endangered critters.
Last week, a sea turtle was found dead on an Oregon beach. In the winter, olive ridley and Pacific Green Sea turtles are known to wash up here due to winter storms and changing ocean conditions. Native to the tropics, the reptiles aren’t used to the cold northern water. Sally Compton is with the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport.
“By the time that they strand here, typically, they’ve been in the cold waters for quite a long time. We’ll see that they might have pneumonia, injuries from being caught in the waves, in the crashing waves on the coast.”
The Oregon Coast Aquarium has in the past successfully rehabilitated sea turtles, so they can return to the wild. If you come across a turtle on the beach, officials ask to keep a distance and contact Oregon State Police 1-800-452-7888 or the Marine Mammal Stranding Network 1-866-767-6114.