2 days Ago By Emily Nguyen
In a poignant reminder of the delicate balance between marine life and the environment, the Seaside Aquarium reported that a 40-pound olive ridley sea turtle was found dead on Sunset Beach near Fort Stevens State Park. According to the aquarium, the unfortunate animal had washed ashore and was already deceased when aquarium personnel arrived on the scene Monday afternoon. The news, shared with KOIN , comes on the heels of a rescue effort for another sea turtle over the weekend by volunteers from the Netarts-Oceanside Fire District.
Further details surrounding the stranding incidents were offered by the Seaside Aquarium, which suggested that recent storm systems may be the culprit. In an email to The Oregonian and via Facebook post, the aquarium explained, "Sustained south-southwesterly winds can push warm water farther north than usual." They also added that sea turtles, like the olive ridley, often are carried along with these warm currents and might quickly become trapped as weather conditions change and the warm waters rapidly dissipate, leading to a condition known as hypothermia.
According to a statement obtained by The Oregonian , this phenomenon is considered the most likely cause of the recent strandings. The Oregon coast serves as a habitat for multiple species of sea turtles, with the olive ridley turtles frequently making an appearance. While these creatures are more often found in warmer climates, they sometimes travel to the northern coast due to shifting warm water currents.
KATU noted that as many as five different species of sea turtles can be found off Oregon's shores, including the olive ridley..
