Florida SeaTurtle Necropsies Done in Beaufort NC

Around half of the approximately 400 'cold stunned' sea turtles sent to Beaufort, NC from Florida have been necropsied. Measurements and weights were taken; samples of skin, tissue and anything unusual were taken and all internal organs and external parts were examined. It seems so far that there was no common pathology in most of the turtles to suggest that death was from a problem other than the cold but all data is not in.
Most had food in their stomachs and intestines suggesting they were healthy and eating until the cold. This one had a bite out of it's side that was completely healed.











The feathery looking part below is the esophagus and the frilly edge that looks like a wave coming on shore is the lung. The lung is all the color of the edge, the red is from warm water being poured into
the cavity in an effort to thaw the insides.
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There were more female sea turtles that were necropsied but the population in general has more females.
It was a great collaboration of agencies and individuals to get this number of necropsies done in such a short time. The rest will be done after everyone has been able to get back to their regular work for a while.

'Cold Stunned' Sea Turtles from Florida Arrive for Necropsies

Dolphin VG 219 had to be moved from the NOAA to NCSU CMAST (North Carolina State University Center for Marine and Science Technology) to make room for 400-500 dead sea turtles that were shipped here from Florida for necropsies.
Approximately 4,000 sea turtles died off the Florida coast over the last month, many of which were likely 'cold stunned'. Turtles become cold stunned at temperatures less than 50 F, smaller turtles reacting first. They will either float on the surface, unable to move, or strand. The necropsies are important to determine whether there were other contributing factors in the deaths. Scientists here are working on the necropsies and completed 40 yesterday. These sea turtles are mostly Green Turtles (endangered) with some Loggerheads(threatened), a few Ridleys(endangered) and possibly a few Hawksbills(endangered).
Of the turtles that were stunned but still alive, 80% were released. These turtles were taken to a facility nearby and placed in warm salt water to bring their bodies back to temperature. They were then weighed, tagged and released as soon as possible. The releases had to be in water above 50F. It is believed that there are no long term affects from 'cold stunning'. Each turtle was tagged with a metal tag placed on a front flipper.The tagging will be helpful in further research.
Here is a link to good sea turtle info. http://www.seaturtle.org/
This site has photos of the entire process of rescue, warming, tagging and release.
ht tp://www.myfoxtampabay.com/generic/photos/sea-turtles-release-012110

Program Updates

MONOFILAMENT
We just sent off 41.8 pounds of monofilament for recycling from our receptacles around the coast. Yes!!
We are looking for volunteers to set up and maintain monofilament recycling receptacles in Dare and Currituck counties.
BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN PHOTO ID
We were on the water 6 days and had 19 sighting sessions with a total of 139 individual dolphin fins photographed. We're working on how many are matches now.
Keith took the annual re-training with the Atlantic Large Whale Disentanglement Network.
At Bonehenge, we continue to degrease the skull in the jacuzzi but have moved the jacuzzi outside due to mold problems. Alternating high and low temperatures seems to be effective at this stage. We are still looking for engineering advice regarding pipe diameter for the thoracic section.

Marine Mammal Strandings - Cental North Carolina

There were 4 known strandings in December 2009 in central NC.
Dec. 10 - A pregnant Grampus whale on N. Core Banks

This is the fetus found inside the Grampus whale.

Dec. 15 - Male bottlenose dolphin on Bear Island
Dec. 18(ish) - Kogia on N. Core Banks
Dec. 22 - Large female bottlenose on Ocracoke (Outer Banks). She was an old dolphin with teeth almost worn down to the gum. She traveled by truck and ferry from Ocracooke to Beaufort. She was frozen for a necropsy workshop Vicky Thayer will offer on January 30.VGT 219 is her ID number.

Carrying to the freezer and in the freezer.
Vicky Thayer is currently running the Central North Carolina Stranding Network full time. We will have ongoing updates on strandings.