Update on turtle season

[NMLC]

Dear wonderful volunteers, 

Massachusetts Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (WBWS) has officially called an end to the 2025 cold-stunned sea turtle season.

This season was a bit odd, with a fast-paced start and, with no live turtles having been found since 12/13, an earlier than usual end. The network has efficiently moved many turtles south, and New England Aquarium (NEAq) will end up with a comfortable number of turtles that they are not looking to move out until it's time for their release.

Our facility was ready to accept turtles. We were preparing to make offers to new staff, and we had begun the process to update our permit to add new staff. However, based on how the season unfolded, we’re not moving forward with that step right now.

With the early end to the season, it was confirmed during a call late Monday with NMLC, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), WBWS, and NEAq that we sadly will not have any sea turtles in house for rehabilitation this year.

However, there is exciting progress being made on the Discovery Center, with the major construction now complete and sponsors having been secured for the majority of the first round of exhibits. Once those exhibits get into production, we will have a better idea of when we’ll be able to open.

The Discovery Center, foundational to NMLC’s beginning, which has been closed for years, will be a critical component of NMLC’s long-term financial stability. While we have funding that was donated specifically for sea turtle care and additional funding to support the Discovery Center and education initiatives, we have very limited resources for seal rehabilitation and general operations. Stay tuned for updates! 

Happy holidays, and thanks for all you do for NMLC!

Jackie Driscoll

Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees