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WELLFLEET, Mass. (Meredith / AP) – An unusual number of sea turtles have been stranded in New England, Massachusetts.
Many turtles are part of a species of critically endangered turtle called Kemp's Ridley.
A director of the Massachusetts Wildlife Preserve informs the Cape Cod Times that at least 219 turtles are landed Wednesday to Friday on the beaches of Cape Cod. The expert told CNN that 173 of these turtles are dead.
The phenomenon is not uncommon, but the number of turtles stranded this year has already exceeded what is considered normal for the season. Turtles generally continue to be found ashore until Christmas.
Mass Audubon's director, Bob Prescott, said it was possible that the area could see nearly 1,000 turtles stranded by the New Year.
Prescott believes that the warming of the Gulf of Maine has allowed turtles to delay their migration south.
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