Rescue Network

First Aid Information for Sea Turtles

What can you do if you find a sea turtle nest, an injured or dead turtle?

If you find a nest

1. Do not disturb or dig up the nest.
2. If the nest is threatened by human or vehicular traffic, build a 2-metre perimeter fence around the nest. Use sticks or small poles, and bind them together with string, cord or rope.
3. If there are stones or other objects around the nest which might prevent the hatchlings from reaching the sea, remove them.
4. If the nest is located in the shade created by a movable object (for example, under an umbrella), try to remove the object.
   

If you find an injured sea turtle

1. Move the turtle to a SAFE PLACE far away from people and noise.
   1. Turtles should always be picked up the shell, and never by the fins or the head.
   2. If the turtle is large and requires two people to move it, one should take hold of the shell just behind the turtle's neck and the other at the part of the shell close to the tail.
   3. Handle the turtle carefully and gently, being careful that their fins do not fold, bend or twist backwards or underneath the body.

2. Make sure that the turtle is in a safe and restricted area, away from wind and drafts.
   1. During the summer months, the injured area should be covered with a damp cloth.
   2. The temperature in the area where the turtle is kept should not fall below 15°C.
   3. It isn't necessary for the turtle to be kept in water. However, when the turtle has a head injury or is exhausted, it SHOULD NOT BE KEPT IN WATER AT ALL because it may choke or drown.

3. If the turtle is tangled up in a net or lines, they should be carefully removed.
   1. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD AN ATTEMPT BE MADE TO PULL OUT A HOOK OR LINE PROTRUDING FROM THE MOUTH OR TAIL.
   2. Check all the flipper for possible identification tags and call the Rescue Network at 210-8944444. ARCHELON will send you a Turtle Incident Report form which should be carefully filled out and returned to us. This information will not only help this particular turtle, but all the other turtles as well.
      

If you find a dead sea turtle

NOTE: All turtles should be handled carefully. It is possible that a turtle may appear to be dead, but in fact is simply in a state of hibernation, especially during the cold months.

1. If the turtle is dead, it should be brought onto the land, and both the Coast Guard and ARCHELON should be notified.
2. A local veterinary official should be called in to certify the death and the cause of death.
   a. If there is none in the area, notify the Coast Guard or an available local veterinarian.
3. If the dead turtle was tagged, the tag should be removed and sent to ARCHELON.
4. t would also greatly help ARCHELON if a photo of the dead turtle, including its injury, was taken and sent to ARCHELON.
5. ARCHELON will send you a Turtle Incident Report form, which should be filled out and returned to us.
6. Notify local authorities so that the turtle will be properly and legally buried.