Why are sea turtles washing up on Oregon beaches?

Four types of sea turtles call the Pacific Ocean off Oregon’s coast home. Leatherback, loggerhead, green and Olive Ridley sea turtles all can be found in Oregon, and all are either listed as federally endangered or threatened. In the past couple of weeks, a loggerhead sea turtle and Olive Ridley sea turtle washed ashore on Short Beach and Sunset Beach respectively.

During the late Fall and Winter months, sea turtles caught by the change of seasons and colder water can be caught off guard and get into trouble. They’re cold blooded and need an external heat source to survive. Unfortunately, the two recent beached turtles didn’t survive, even after one was transferred to the Oregon Coast Aquarium to rehabilitate. In 2024, Oregon saw a marked increase in sea turtle strandings and scientists aren’t sure if it’s part of a larger trend or an anomaly.

Regardless, these happenings are an important reminder that our ocean contains incredible wildlife and although it’s sad, events like these provide Oregonians the opportunity to see up close and learn about some critters they might not normally get to.