Cold Stunning Flashcards
(21 cards)
What is cold stunning?
Similar to hypothermia, a condition caused by a sudden drop in water temperature that causes turtles to become immobile and strand
When does cold stunning typically occur in NY?
- Each year is unique and unpredictable
- Typically November-December
- Has occurred as early as October and as late as February
Where do most strandings typically occur?
- Long Island Sound
- Great Peconic Bay
- North facing beaches
What is the Cold Stun species frequency according to NYMRC data?
- Kemp’s = highest frequency (57.6%)
- Greens = second highest (27.6%)
- Loggerheads = lowest (14.6%)
Where would you look if you wanted to find a cold stunned turtle?
- Search the entire beach from the dune line to the water line
- Check the wrack line
- Check the water for floating turtles
- Look through the high lines for turtles buried beneath dried seaweed
What are some things that you should do if you find a turtle?
- If it is upside-down, flip it back over immediately
- If you cannot wait for NYMRC to get on site hide the turtle with seaweed and use an object (ex: stick) to mark the location
Why should you hide the turtle
What is the importance of attracting and training “citizen scientists”
- Implement efficient beach monitoring programs
- Enhance the rescue of NY cold stunned turtles
What are “cold stunned patrollers”?
- Consist of level I and level II patrollers
- Both levels patrol beaches on their own
- Level II patrollers also walk based on assignments
What is the goal of this program
What is the intake process for turtles brought into NYMRC?
- Gradual warming of body temp by 2-4°C daily
- Blood samples taken on 1st and 5th day
- Introduced to swimming (water temp is matched to internal temperature)
- Food is not offered until animal has reached full temperature
- Animal is placed in a large tank with fellow tank mates
What is the approximate internal body temperature of sea turtles?
~24°C
Why is the gradual warming process important
Describe the intake physical for sea turtles at NYMRC
- Eye touch: blinking = positive response, flipper movement with no blinking = no circulation to the brain
- Heart rate: should be 32bpm but will likely be 0 to 1 bpm
- Front flipper touch
Describe a Class I response classification
- Assessment parameters present and strong
- Strong reactions to all touches
- Heart rate, respirations, and head lifts are relatively strong
- Cloacal temperature decreased
Least severe
Describe a Class II response classification
- Assessment parameters present but weak
- Positive reactions to most/all touches, but responses are weak
- Heart rate, respirations and head lifts are slow or weak
- Cloacal (internal) temperature decreased
Describe a Class III response classification
- Assessment parameters not present or very weak
- Not all touches are positive, or responses were very weak
- Heart rate, respirations, and head lifts are hard to find/see
- Cloacal temperature decreased
May require intubation or emergency medicine
Describe a Class IV response classification
- Assessment parameters not present
- Animal is not reacting to any touches
- Heart rate, respirations, and head lifts cant be found
- No signs of life
Most severe / may require intubation or emergency medicine
Describe the fluid therapy protocol at NYMRC
- If a turtle is not eating, fluids will be given until the turtle has eaten
- 1% BW for the 1st hour then up to 2-3% BW daily until eating
Fluids can be given SQ or IV
What is the protocol for critical to non-responsive patients at NYMRC?
- Emergency drugs (ex: Epinephrin (if cardiac response is poor) or Doxapram hydrochloride (stimulates respiration))
- Intubation if animal is not breathing on its own
Typically Class III and IV animals
Describe the feeding practices at NYMRC
Food is offered when turtles have been…
- Swimming on their own for at last 24hrs
- Reached temp of 24°C
Food is 2-3% BW and consists of…
- Squid
- Clam
- Crab
- Herring
Animals that are not eating after 2-4 weeks are forced fed…
- Whole pieces
- Slurry
- 50% dextrose for low glucose
- Vitamin B complex
This is not easy
What are some of the treatment plans given to turtles at NYMRC?
- Antibiotics
- Pain relief
- Supplements (ex: iron for low hematocrit)
- Shell treatment (ex: manuka honey)
Describe osteomyelitis in sea turtles
- Typically a secondary disease gotten after cold stunning
- Bacterial infection that can occur in free-ranging and captive sea turtle
- Symptoms include…
- Lethargy
- Anorexia
- Swelling
- Lameness
- Can develop several weeks to months into rehabilitation
- Treatment…
- Surgery
- Antibiotics
- Rehab can last over 10 days
Where are NYMRC sea turtles typically released?
- Roughly 80% = released locally
- 20% = released down south (Florida) when water conditions up north are unsuitable for release
