Turtle deaths running high since oil spill

By Steve Gorman; editing by Jackie Frank
NEW ORLEANS
Tue May 18, 2010 4:54am EDT (Reuters) – At least 150 sea turtles have washed up dead or dying along the U.S. Gulf Coast since the giant oil spill off Louisiana, a higher number than normal for this time of year, a leading wildlife expert said on Monday. The toll among sea turtles has been steadily rising since the deep-sea well ruptured last month, and the stranding count began to reach an unusually high level in the past week, said Dr. Michael Ziccardi, a veterinarian overseeing some of the area’s wildlife rescue teams. Several days ago, when the number of dead turtles stood at just over 100, federal wildlife officials said that was still considered typical for the season. Wildlife officials are especially concerned for the well-being of sea turtles in the Gulf following the spill because all five species native to the region are endangered, and they are just heading into their spring nesting season. This is a time of year when dead or debilitated turtles would normally begin to show up with greater frequency, but the 156 found since April 30 along the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida “are in higher numbers than you would expect,” Ziccardi said. … Of 156 turtles collected as of Monday, eight were still alive when found, and six of those survived and are undergoing rehabilitation. “They’re looking good,” he said. …

Turtle deaths running high since oil spill: expert