Latest news with #Kemp'sRidleys
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Florida officials announce record year for certain threatened sea turtle nests
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has finalized its sea turtle nest count for 2024, with great news for some species. Here are the final numbers: Green Turtles: 14,308 Loggerheads: 110,122 Leatherbacks: 1,799 Kemp's Ridleys: 34 Hawksbills: 0 [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] These numbers are especially critical for loggerhead sea turtles and green turtles, which increasingly rely on Florida for nesting grounds. FWC says Florida beaches host around 90% of all loggerhead nests in the Southeast United States and about 40% of them worldwide. Officials say last season had a solid turnout,. Green turtle nesting numbers were lower than last year, but that was expected -- Last year set a new record. The number of Kemp's ridley nests is significant, despite the number being far behind the rest. This is a new record for the state, and a positive sign for the most endangered species of sea turtle. There were just 10 recorded in 2023 and 8 in 2022, according to FWC data. At the end of nesting season in October, St. Johns County recorded 4 Kemp's ridley turtles on its beaches. The first Kemp's ridley sea turtle nest recorded in St. Johns County was in 2015, after conservationist attempts to expand their nesting grounds. Sea turtle conservationists have raised concerns about the status of the animals in 2025, however. When water temperatures drop to the low 50s or below, sea turtles can become cold-stressed, which causes them to become lethargic and possibly stranded on shore. Related: Doctors at St. Johns County sea turtle hospital saw highest influx of sea turtles in January The Florida Aquarium announced Thursday that it had reached capacity for sea turtle rescues as record numbers of cold-stressed patients arrived at its rehabilitation center in Apollo Beach. Officials say they now have 56, which is the highest number recorded at one time. 'This is one of the earliest and most severe cold-stress events we've ever seen,' said Dr. Debi Luke, Senior Vice President of Conservation at The Florida Aquarium. 'We usually see strandings peak between late February and April, but we're already at full capacity, and more turtles are continuing to struggle.' Cold stress is also a leading cause of death for Florida's threatened manatees. Related: 565 manatees were reported dead in Florida last year: Here's what we've learned If you see a washed-up sea turtle, St. Johns County officials say to never push them back into the ocean. Instead, you're encouraged to call the FWC Wildlife Hotline. To call, dial 888-404-3922. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Florida officials announce record year for certain threatened sea turtle nests
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has finalized its sea turtle nest count for 2024, with great news for some species. Here are the final numbers: Green Turtles: 14,308 Loggerheads: 110,122 Leatherbacks: 1,799 Kemp's Ridleys: 34 Hawksbills: 0 [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] These numbers are especially critical for loggerhead sea turtles and green turtles, which increasingly rely on Florida for nesting grounds. FWC says Florida beaches host around 90% of all loggerhead nests in the Southeast United States and about 40% of them worldwide. Officials say last season had a solid turnout,. Green turtle nesting numbers were lower than last year, but that was expected -- Last year set a new record. The number of Kemp's ridley nests is significant, despite the number being far behind the rest. This is a new record for the state, and a positive sign for the most endangered species of sea turtle. There were just 10 recorded in 2023 and 8 in 2022, according to FWC data. At the end of nesting season in October, St. Johns County recorded 4 Kemp's ridley turtles on its beaches. The first Kemp's ridley sea turtle nest recorded in St. Johns County was in 2015, after conservationist attempts to expand their nesting grounds. Sea turtle conservationists have raised concerns about the status of the animals in 2025, however. When water temperatures drop to the low 50s or below, sea turtles can become cold-stressed, which causes them to become lethargic and possibly stranded on shore. Related: Doctors at St. Johns County sea turtle hospital saw highest influx of sea turtles in January The Florida Aquarium announced Thursday that it had reached capacity for sea turtle rescues as record numbers of cold-stressed patients arrived at its rehabilitation center in Apollo Beach. Officials say they now have 56, which is the highest number recorded at one time. 'This is one of the earliest and most severe cold-stress events we've ever seen,' said Dr. Debi Luke, Senior Vice President of Conservation at The Florida Aquarium. 'We usually see strandings peak between late February and April, but we're already at full capacity, and more turtles are continuing to struggle.' Cold stress is also a leading cause of death for Florida's threatened manatees. Related: 565 manatees were reported dead in Florida last year: Here's what we've learned If you see a washed-up sea turtle, St. Johns County officials say to never push them back into the ocean. Instead, you're encouraged to call the FWC Wildlife Hotline. To call, dial 888-404-3922. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Sky News
15-02-2025
- Science
- Sky News
Sea turtle Barnacle Bill treated at UK's first dedicated rehab centre
The number of sea turtles washing up on UK beaches has more than doubled in recent years, prompting the creation of the country's first dedicated rehabilitation centre in Brighton. Last year, 35 sea turtles were found stranded on British shores, compared to just 12 in 2022. Many arrive suffering from severe hypothermia, disoriented by storms and ocean currents - an issue that experts say is being driven by climate change. Of the seven species of sea turtle, three are classified as endangered, with two of those, Hawksbills and Kemp's Ridleys, being critically endangered. In response, SEA LIFE Brighton has opened the UK's first purpose-built Turtle Rehabilitation and Repatriation Centre, providing specialist care to nurse these vulnerable creatures back to health. 2:11 The project was the brainchild of SEA LIFE's curator Joe Williams. He told Sky News: "Turtles shouldn't be turning up here in the UK. Climate change is a massive driver in this. "Climate change leads to more storms, and storms can very much disorient turtles when they're out at sea. Then particularly when they're in cold waters, they lose control of their limbs." The centre opened in December, and already had its first patient: Barnacle Bill, a loggerhead turtle that was rescued off the coast of Guernsey in 2023. SEA LIFE aquarist Grace Cavanagh said: "She's named Barnacle Bill because she was found with a lot of barnacles on her. "And that means she's probably been floating about cold stunned, hypothermic for quite a while. There's been a lot of critical care for her to make sure she was okay." Barnacle Bill was treated for hypothermia in Guernsey, and the focus now is on rehabilitation, so she is ready to be returned to the wild. Read more from Sky News: William and Kate mark Valentine's Day with romantic photo What we know about asteroid that could hit Earth Unlike the other turtles at SEA LIFE Brighton, Bill is not on display. She is housed in a special tank, behind strict biosecurity measures, to limit human exposure. Bill has a regular regime of "enrichment" to try and stimulate her natural behaviours such as swimming, exploration and feeding. The tank has a wave machine to mimic the sea, and Bill's meals are sometimes hidden beneath rocks to encourage her natural foraging instincts. Get Sky News on WhatsApp Follow our channel and never miss an update. Tap here to follow Once she's ready, Barnacle Bill will be transported back to the wild aboard a Royal Navy warship. Although there's no definite schedule, the team at SEA LIFE say it could be any day now. But with turtle strandings rising every year, the Brighton centre may not stay empty for long. Main image: GSPCA Guernsey
Sky News
15-02-2025
- Science
- Sky News
Sea turtle Barnacle Bill treated by UK's first dedicated rehab centre
The number of sea turtles washing up on UK beaches has more than doubled in recent years, prompting the creation of the country's first dedicated rehabilitation centre in Brighton. Last year, 35 sea turtles were found stranded on British shores, compared to just 12 in 2022. Many arrive suffering from severe hypothermia, disoriented by storms and ocean currents - an issue that experts say is being driven by climate change. Of the seven species of sea turtle, three are classified as endangered, with two of those, Hawksbills and Kemp's Ridleys, being critically endangered. In response, SEA LIFE Brighton has opened the UK's first purpose-built Turtle Rehabilitation and Repatriation Centre, providing specialist care to nurse these vulnerable creatures back to health. 2:11 The project was the brainchild of SEA LIFE's curator Joe Williams. He told Sky News: "Turtles shouldn't be turning up here in the UK. Climate change is a massive driver in this. "Climate change leads to more storms, and storms can very much disorient turtles when they're out at sea. Then particularly when they're in cold waters, they lose control of their limbs." The centre opened in December, and already had its first patient: Barnacle Bill, a loggerhead turtle that was rescued off the coast of Guernsey in 2023. SEA LIFE aquarist Grace Cavanagh said: "She's named Barnacle Bill because she was found with a lot of barnacles on her. "And that means she's probably been floating about cold stunned, hypothermic for quite a while. There's been a lot of critical care for her to make sure she was okay." Barnacle Bill was treated for hypothermia in Guernsey, and the focus now is on rehabilitation, so she is ready to be returned to the wild. Read more from Sky News: William and Kate mark Valentine's Day with romantic photo What we know about asteroid that could hit Earth Unlike the other turtles at SEA LIFE Brighton, Bill is not on display. She is housed in a special tank, behind strict biosecurity measures, to limit human exposure. Bill has a regular regime of "enrichment" to try and stimulate her natural behaviours such as swimming, exploration and feeding. The tank has a wave machine to mimic the sea, and Bill's meals are sometimes hidden beneath rocks to encourage her natural foraging instincts. Get Sky News on WhatsApp Follow our channel and never miss an update. Tap here to follow Once she's ready, Barnacle Bill will be transported back to the wild aboard a Royal Navy warship. Although there's no definite schedule, the team at SEA LIFE say it could be any day now. But with turtle strandings rising every year, the Brighton centre may not stay empty for long. Main image: GSPCA Guernsey
Sky News
15-02-2025
- Science
- Sky News
Meet Barnacle Bill - the sea turtle treated by UK's first dedicated rehabilitation centre
The number of sea turtles washing up on UK beaches has more than doubled in recent years, prompting the creation of the country's first dedicated rehabilitation centre in Brighton. Last year, 35 sea turtles were found stranded on British shores, compared to just 12 in 2022. Many arrive suffering from severe hypothermia, disoriented by storms and ocean currents - an issue that experts say is being driven by climate change. Of the seven species of sea turtle, three are classified as endangered, with two of those, Hawksbills and Kemp's Ridleys, being critically endangered. In response, SEA LIFE Brighton has opened the UK's first purpose-built Turtle Rehabilitation and Repatriation Centre, providing specialist care to nurse these vulnerable creatures back to health. 2:11 The project was the brainchild of SEA LIFE's curator Joe Williams. He told Sky News: "Turtles shouldn't be turning up here in the UK. Climate change is a massive driver in this. "Climate change leads to more storms, and storms can very much disorient turtles when they're out at sea. Then particularly when they're in cold waters, they lose control of their limbs." The centre opened in December, and already had its first patient: Barnacle Bill, a loggerhead turtle that was rescued off the coast of Guernsey in 2023. SEA LIFE aquarist Grace Cavanagh said: "She's named Barnacle Bill because she was found with a lot of barnacles on her. "And that means she's probably been floating about cold stunned, hypothermic for quite a while. There's been a lot of critical care for her to make sure she was okay." Barnacle Bill was treated for hypothermia in Guernsey, and the focus now is on rehabilitation, so she is ready to be returned to the wild. Read more from Sky News: William and Kate mark Valentine's Day with romantic photo What we know about asteroid that could hit Earth Unlike the other turtles at SEA LIFE Brighton, Bill is not on display. She is housed in a special tank, behind strict biosecurity measures, to limit human exposure. Bill has a regular regime of "enrichment" to try and stimulate her natural behaviours such as swimming, exploration and feeding. The tank has a wave machine to mimic the sea, and Bill's meals are sometimes hidden beneath rocks to encourage her natural foraging instincts. Get Sky News on WhatsApp Follow our channel and never miss an update. Tap here to follow Once she's ready, Barnacle Bill will be transported back to the wild aboard a Royal Navy warship. Although there's no definite schedule, the team at SEA LIFE say it could be any day now. But with turtle strandings rising every year, the Brighton centre may not stay empty for long. Main image: GSPCA Guernsey
