The NMLC got the Red-Bellied Cooters in September as part of the head start program. They have grown tremendously since then. They were only about the size of a quarter when they were first brought in to the center. The will be nurtured at the NMLC for almost a year, before being released in local ponds. With the care and support they receive at the center, they will grow as much in one year as a Red-Bellied Cooter in the wild would grow in five years! This is really amazing. It really does give them a much-needed head start in life.

Today was my last day at the CCSN and NMLC. After work, the staff of both organizations had a fondue party for me at Kathy Zagzebski’s house. Almost everyone was there. We had three different kinds of cheese fondue and two different kinds of chocolate fondue. The food was delicious and the party was a lot of fun. After spending three weeks with the CCSN and the NMLC, I was really sad to leave. They are both amazing organizations with dedicated and caring staff. I feel honored that I was able to spend time there.

A potential pilot whale stranding is a scary situation. This is because pilot whales are one of the marine mammal species that tends to mass strand. There are many theories as to why they mass strand; including geomagnetic anomalies which may confuse their navigational abilities, getting trapped by extreme high and low tides, getting trapped by the complex topography of the area, and falling victim to disease or injury. Further, pilot whales are extremely social animals. They usually travel in large pods of up to 100 whales. Since they travel together, if one whale strands, they all strand. It was really hard to see the dolphins strand this week. I can't even imagine what it would be like to see a mass stranding. 

In the afternoon, I worked with the NMLC and helped Brian with some turtle care. First, we cut up some squid and shrimp to feed to the Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle, Claw. She ate very well today. Afterwards, we took her out of the pool to examine and weigh her. She weighed over 13 pounds. She gained a whole pound since last week! The difference between Claw and the new cold-stunned turtles is amazing. She looks great. She is healthy and will soon be traveling to Florida for release back to the sea.

The results from the samples we collected won’t come back for a few weeks. However, there are many theories as to why single dolphins strand, such as disorientation, parasitic infection, illness, natural mortality, injury, and difficulty navigating coastal waters. Even though the two dolphins stranded together, it was still considered a single stranding. These dolphins were a mother and calf pair; wherever the mother goes, the calf will follow. Therefore, since the calf was dependent on his mother, they both stranded together.

I think this incident was particularly upsetting because dolphins are mammals. People feel a kinship with them because they are a lot like us in many ways. Also, this was a mother and calf pair, which adds to the tragedy. It is, however, comforting to know that the CCSN is dedicated to helping dolphins and other marine mammals. Also, information learned from these dolphins might help save others in the future. 

I met up with Bill around 3:00. We hopped in his car and he dropped me off at a beach about a mile down the road. Bill drove to another beach. We each walked our beaches separately looking for any sign of cold-stunned turtles. When I was finished, I headed back to pick up Bill. As I approached the beach parking lot, I noticed that Bill was sitting down. When I got closer, I realized that he was with a turtle! Bill had found a Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle on the shore among the seagrass. I rushed over to Bill and the turtle. We scooped it up and put it in my car. It felt so limp and cold when I picked it up. I felt sorry for the little turtle, but I was really happy that it was found and was going to get the best care possible. We kept it in the car while we finished looking for more cold-stunned turtles on the other beaches in the area. We were careful to keep the temperature around 50 degrees. At the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, where the cold-stunned turtles recieve their initial triage care, they will gradually increase the turtle's temperature to avoid shocking its system. Bill and I named the turtle Dawn.

While I was finishing up on my last beach, I got a call from Sarah, from the Cape Cod Stranding Network, informing me that there were two stranded dolphins in Provincetown. I finished up on the beach and immediately started heading toward Provincetown. I was really excited that I was going to see the CCSN in action. However, while I was on my way, I got a call back from the CCSN informing me that the dolphins could not be located. Apparently, they had made there way back out to sea. I was really happy to hear this. Although I really wanted to see the CCSN in action, I was thankful that the dolphins made it back out to sea.

In addition to the Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles, they are also rehabilitating a Green Sea Turtle at the New England Aquarium. I had never seen a Green Turtle before, so this was really exciting for me. They don’t usually rescue Green Turtles until a little later in the season. The Green Sea Turtle was bigger than the Kemp’s Ridleys and she was beautiful. She is doing really well. I helped them feed her squid and herring. She was a pretty aggressive eater. This was  entertaining to watch (see video).

The New England Aquarium was extremely busy with the new Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles. Brian and I were there to help. It was crazy! It seemed like there were turtles everywhere! They were all covered in algae, and some even had barnacles attached to their shells. I felt so bad for them. They looked pitiful. We had to examine them, check their heart rates, and treat any wounds. It was pretty hectic. The turtles also had to have blood drawn to detect infection, disease, pH, and calcium levels. Many needed IV fluids. After their exams, we put them into kiddie pools for about an hour. These pools were around 60 degrees. This was to evaluate whether they were able to swim and breathe in the water. The turtles were then put into pools that were about 65 degrees. The idea is to try to gradually increase their temperature to avoid shocking their systems. After they are acclimated to the water, they will go into large, warm pools.

One new, little turtle was in pretty bad shape. The rehabbers could not get a heart rate on him and he didn’t appear to be breathing very often. He was immediately brought upstairs to the ICU. There, the veterinarian intubated him to help him breathe. He also received IV fluids. His heart rate was really low, so he was give meds to get it pumping. Afterwards, he went into an incubator to get his temperature up. A little while later, the turtle looked a lot better…he was breathing and even did okay in the kiddie pool.

At the aquarium, Harpoon was examined, weighed and measured. We then drove her to the airport in the animal ambulance. The animal ambulance looks a lot like a regular ambulance, with lights and a siren. These people do not mess around when it comes to animal rescue! When we arrived at the airport, we brought Harpoon into the cargo area. She was scheduled to fly to Florida by herself, as cargo. This sounded strange to me at first. However, the New England Aquarium has been successfully sending turtles to Florida this way for ten years. Before tying her crate, we lubricated her carapace. This was to keep her shell from drying out during her three hour flight. The plane departed at 2:00, as scheduled. I was happy that she was another step closer to freedom.

Harpoon’s release has been a long time coming. She was in rehab for almost a year. In addition to all the problems associated with being cold-stunned, she also had buoyancy issues. Basically, she floated. Being too buoyant could make her a prime target for predators and prevent her from feeding. Due to these issues, she missed the opportunity to be released locally, when the waters were warm.

Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles, like Harpoon, are the most highly endangered species of sea turtle in the world. Every individual is crucial to the survival of the species. Harpoon is a female. She will probably go on to lay many eggs in her future. I feel that her release was a step in the right direction toward the propagation of the species. I felt honored to be a part of it.

All of the rescued cold-stunned turtles, including Harpoon, are juveniles. Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles lay their eggs almost exclusively on one beach in Mexico, Ranch Nuevo. When they are fully mature, they usually never leave the Gulf of Mexico area. However, many young Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles follow food sources and end up riding the Gulf Stream all the way up to New England. If they can't find their way south, and the water gets too cold, they end up stranding.

After the meeting, Brian let me do the water quality testing on the turtle tanks. I like this kind of work. I find it really interesting. In addition to the in-house testing, a sample is also brought to a lab once a week for coliform bacteria testing. Today, Joanne and I collected this sample and brought it to the lab. I was amazed at how much hard work and attention goes into the turtle’s water quality.