VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Virginia Aquarium is reporting a record breaking year for cold-stunned turtle rescues.
A turtle becomes cold-stunned when it cannot reach warmer waters before the temperature of its habitat drops too low. Cold water can weaken turtles, making it harder for them to swim. Without help, most cold-stunned turtles will die.
It has been a long road to recovery for Basset Hound the turtle, which was found in Portsmouth in January.
Watch previous coverage: Virginia Aquarium responds to record cold-stunned sea turtles
“Somebody found the turtle and called our 24-hour stranding hotline. We got photos to confirm it was a live sea turtle, and then our team went out to respond,” said Joanna Daniel, a stranding and research scientist at the Virginia Aquarium.
Daniel tells me that Basset Hound was cold-stunned when they were discovered by rescuers, something that is becoming an increasing issue.
“This is a record-breaking year for us and for some other facilities along the East Coast as well. I’m not sure why that is. It could be that turtles are hanging out in our area longer as the water gets colder,” Daniel continued.
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There have been 77 rescues this season, which runs from November through January. That’s more than double the number of cold-stunned turtles from last year.
“The Eastern Shore is a hot spot for cold-stunned turtles that are trying to leave the bay but aren’t able to get out into the open ocean in time to head south,” she said.
And that’s what apparently happened to this young turtle. But after being slowly warmed up, receiving IV fluids, and a round of antibiotics, he or she is going to swim the Atlantic once again.
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“You were saying you don't know if it’s a he or a she. Why is that?” I asked.
“Before they reach sexual maturity, which happens at about 25 years of age, you can’t tell. They look exactly the same,” Daniel explained.
Like humans, their average life expectancy is about 80 years, and now little Basset Hound has a better shot at reaching that ripe old age, thanks to the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Team — they are sea life superheroes in Hampton Roads.
