NPS Photo

An NPS volunteer holds a young, rescued Green sea turtle.

If you are walking on a shoreline, driving on the beach, or boating, here is a great way that you can help save sea turtles.

Watch for sea turtles that are stranded. A stranded sea turtle is one that is found washed ashore or floating, alive or dead. If it is alive, it is generally in a weakened condition.

Stranded sea turtles can be found in the bays, passes, or Gulf of Mexico, or on their shorelines. They can be located year-round. 

It is important that you watch for and report stranded sea turtles so that biologists can document them. They will take live, stranded sea turtles to rehabilitation facilities to receive care. Dead, stranded sea turtles will sometimes be salvaged for necropsy and study, and when they are not they will be removed from the beachfront or marked so that they are not documented again. 

If you find a stranded sea turtle, please report it by flagging down a passing turtle patroller (April through mid-July) or law enforcement officer, or by calling the appropriate area coordinator. If you do not recall the number for the area coordinator, call 1-866-TURTLE5 and a recorded message will give you that number.

• Report the location, size of the turtle, proximity to the surf, and condition (alive or dead).
• Mark the location.
• If the turtle is alive, stay at the site until an official arrives if possible. 

Your assistance is greatly appreciated and could make all the difference in ensuring the survivorship of these threatened and endangered turtles.