SCRATCHPAD
An important lesson about wildlife on the North Coast
By NIKKI DAVIDSON
COAST WEEKEND EDITOR
It’s an image no one wants to see on the
beautiful beaches of the North Coast.
A massive sea turtle, slumped lifeless
with its eyes shut in the sand. It’s a heart-
breaking sight, but the Seaside Aquarium
posted the photos on social media to share
an important lesson. If you’re planning on
spending time on the beach this winter, it’s
information you need to know.
The cold weather means it is more likely
people on the North Coast might come
across a sea turtle in a situation like this.
It can happen if a turtle becomes “cold-
stunned” or hypothermic after traveling fur-
ther north than usual and getting trapped
in colder waters. They might head out of
the water seeking refuge from the chilly
temperatures.
While the turtle may appear to have
passed away, it might still have a chance of
survival. According to the Seaside Aquar-
ium, it would be very diffi cult for a pass-
erby to accurately access the situation, as the
hypothermic turtle’s heart could slow to as
little as one beat per minute.
What you do next is crucial, because it
could be life or death for these threatened
or endangered species. You should pick up
your phone and call an expert. Touching
the turtle, or moving it back to the water, is
one of the worst things you could do (and
illegal).
The professionals at Seaside Aquarium
fi rst were notifi ed of this turtle on the beach
in Ocean Park, Washington. However, by
HAPPY
HOLIDAYS
COAST WEEKEND EDITOR
NIKKI DAVIDSON
THURSDAY
DEC. 2
PHOTO BY
That’s why they’re asking anyone who
comes across a cold-stunned turtle on the
beach to call the closest aquarium, state
police (in Oregon the tipline is 800-452-
7888) or Marine Mammal Stranding Net-
work at 866-767-6114. If possible, you
should stay with the turtle until experts can
come and pick it up.
As humans exploring this wild and
diverse environment, sometimes the best
thing we can do is admit we don’t know
everything. Call an expert, and you might
just save a life!
RS
STAFF AND CONTRIBUTO
ON THE
COVER
A volunteer hangs
decorations on
the Crab Pot
Christmas tree in
Ilwaco.
the time they arrived, it was gone. They
believe that an unwitting person attempted
to help the turtle by returning it to the water,
as it had disappeared by the time they
arrived. A second report came several days
later that the same turtle was discovered a
few days later on the beach in Oysterville,
Washington.
This particular turtle didn’t make it, but
other turtles located on the North Coast
have been successfully rehabilitated at the
Oregon Coast Aquarium and the Seattle
Aquarium.
2021
Crab pot
Christmas
ILWACO’S
QUIRKY TW
ON HOLID
IST
AY FUN
PAGE 4
NIKKI DAVIDSON
CALENDAR COORDINATOR
SARAH SMITH
NEW ADDIT
IONS
TO PIER 39
PAGE 6
KING TIDES
ARE BACK
PAGE 8
MEET
ASTORIA’S
CRAFT BEE
R
‘FAMILY’
PAGE 10
CONTRIBUTORS
M.J. CODY
WILLIAM DEAN
MALLORY GRUBEN
PETER KORCHNAK
REBECCA LEXA
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2021 // 3