The 2013 stranding season officially began on Monday, November 4th, with the rescue of a Kemp’s ridley at Paines Creek Beach in Brewster. The turtle was brought to Wild Care in Eastham, then to the wildlife sanctuary, and onto the New England Aquarium where it was last reported to be eating on its own and swimming capably in a pool.
Truro volunteer Nancy Braun with her first turtle of the season north of Ryder Beach
Since then 37 more turtles– all ridleys except for 3 greens– have been recovered, nearly half of them on a single day, Tuesday, November 13, in the first sustained cold blast of the season. With the wind blowing between 20 and 30 miles per hour from the north/ northwest, most of those turtles washed up in Brewster where volunteer Mary Myers alone recovered a total of 7!
Although this season could be a very active one, we believe the turtles will have a fighting chance thanks to an extraordinary response to our annual call for volunteers. More than 80 people have pledged to walk a bayside beach this fall, a small army that will increase the odds that any ailing turtle that makes it ashore will be recovered in time to get medical treatment.
And it’s not too late to enlist! Anyone interested in walking a beach and/or driving a turtle to the aquarium’s facility in Quincy can do so by emailing or calling volunteer coordinator Diane Silverstein at 508-349-2615.