Global warming is affecting sea turtles, who are getting stranded on beaches close to Cape Cod. Sea turtles get stranded up in the area due to warming waters. A 2019 paper linked warmer waters in the Gulf of Maine to “cold-stunned” sea turtles in Cape Cod Bay.

According to Mass Audubon, the warmer waters lure the turtles into security, but then they end up “stunned” when the waters turn cold or experience storms. They then get trapped in Cape Cod Bay or other northern waters. Because the waters in the Gulf of Maine warming, species are lured north to because they think those waters are hospitable.

Paper author Lucas Griffin said of the phenomenon, “We were surprised the results suggested this increase was linked with warmer sea surface temperatures,” turtles and other species are, “exhibiting a similar shift in both habitat distribution and in phenology patterns.”

Because of this, the number of turtles that get washed up and stranded on Cape Cod Beaches are rapidly increasing. In the 1970s, the numbers were under 10. In 2014, over 1,200 sea turtles were found on beaches around Cape Cod, a record. Kemp’s ridley is one of the species most affected by this warming. They are critically endangered sea turtles that nest in shores along the Gulf of Mexico.

This year, by December 2019, close to 112 sea turtles had already been rescued from Cape Cod beaches by mass Audubon volunteers. Stranded turtles are taken back to a sanctuary where they are tagged, and cared for.They are then flown down to Florida to be put back into the water.

Wildlife groups and scientists are working to rescue turtles when they get stranded on Cape beaches. Kara Dodge, a research scientist at the New England Aquarium told the Guardian that if Climate change continues, “the prediction is that we will continue to see these high-stranding events, hundreds of animals, for the foreseeable future.”

This is just another obstacle that Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are facing that lead to their endangered status. They are also endangered due to human collection of eggs and killing of turtles for meat.  Other types of sea turtles are also facing problems related to plastic pollution and half of baby sea turtles population dies from consuming plastic!

Sign this petition demanding protection for the endangered baby sea turtles of Cape Cod.

Read more about turtles in One Green Planet, including the sea turtle found with plastic in its belly. Plastic waste is killing marine life all around the globe at an alarming rate, dead whales washed ashore with plastic in their stomachs have been found in Philippines, Thailand, Spain and in more places that we can count! Plastic is also found in various land animals as well, like deers and cows.

There are products you may be using or habits you may have that contribute to plastic Pollution. Learn more about how the use of Teabags, Cotton Swabs, Laundry, Contact Lenses, Glitter and Sheet Masks pollute our oceans so you can make more informed decisions going forward. There are also numerous simple actions and switches that can help cut plastic out of our lives including, making your own cosmetics, shampoo, toothpaste, soap, household cleaners, using  mason jars, reusable bags/bottles/straws, and avoiding microbeads! 

The United Nation recently released a report warning countries about the dangers of climate change. They also urged people to reduce their dairy and meat intake by opting for more plant-based foods as one way to take climate action. We highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest meatless, plant-based, vegan and allergy-friendly recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

For more Animal, Earth, Life, Vegan Food, Health, and Recipe content published daily, subscribe to the One Green Planet Newsletter! Lastly, being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!