Abstract

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MD DNR) formed the Marine Mammal Stranding and Sea Turtle Stranding Program in the fall of 1990. MD DNR is responsible for all dead-stranded sea turtles in Maryland waters. Our geographic response area includes the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean coastline. This presentation summarizes 20 consecutive years of MD DNR sea turtle standings in Maryland. The majority of stranded sea turtles are found along the Atlantic Ocean coast (64%). A total of 477 sea turtles have stranded in Maryland waters and four species of sea turtles have been documented: loggerhead (Caretta caretta), green (Chelonia mydas), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), and Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii). The loggerhead is the most commonly stranded sea turtle (n = 392). In 1998, 2001 and 2002 increased number of loggerhead strandings occurred, and in 2004 leatherback sea turtles stranded along the mid-Atlantic coast in large numbers. Data collection parameters include date, species, location, carcass size, body decomposition index, evidence of human interaction, and gross necropsy findings.

Stimulus for summary is twofold 1) 2010–2011 is the 20th anniversary of the program, and 2) need for database evaluation of stranded animals to compare with upcoming sea turtle surveys scheduled to begin in Spring of 2011. Little is published about Maryland sea turtles, yet there is a need to provide information when conservation measures are proposed. A thorough analysis of dead strandings, in combination with live survey data, will help evaluate the status of sea turtles in mid-Atlantic waters. Representative interesting cases are also highlighted.

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the National Park Service /Assateague Island National Seashore, MD State Park Service, MD DNR Natural Resources Police, Ocean City, MD Departments of Public Works/Beach Patrol/Enforcement, Patuxent Naval Air Station and the citizens of Maryland for reporting strandings and assisting MD DNR with efforts over the past 20 years.