A sea turtle found stranded on Horsfall Beach, north of North Bend, Wednesday, Dec. 19, was severely injured and eventually transported to the Oregon Coast Aquarium at Newport for treatment. However, the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle passed away on Monday, Dec. 24. Aquarium officials say it most likely caught a warm current north along the California Coast and was eventually stranded in the cold waters off the Oregon Coast. Aquarium officials say its body temperature was about 30-degrees below normal for a tropical turtle. It was also found to be bleeding externally and had broken scutes on the top and bottom of its shell. A good samaritan found the turtle and reported it to the Oregon State Police who assisted in transporting it to Reedsport where OCA officials met it. A second turtle, found near Waldport on the Central Coast, also died at the Aquarium.
