The newest member of the Marine Center family is a loggerhead turtle who is approximately seven years old. Patch was treated for an injury at the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation and is now enjoying the remainder of his rehabilitation here in Southold. Patch was found off Staten Island last summer after being struck by the propeller of a motor boat. His carapace, or shell, was top sliced through and a lung was punctured. He (we actually don't know this turtle's gender--it cannot be visually determined until the animal matures) was taken to the Riverhead Foundation where the attending veterinarian sutured his lung and repaired his carapace with two patches of fiberglass (hence the name). Patch has made a great recovery and was transferred to the Marine Center this past winter to make room at the Riverhead Foundation for more critically ill sea turtles.

Patch currently weighs 80 pounds, but as a mature adult, he can grow to over 400 pounds. He now enjoys two pounds of seafood a day, usually mackerel or squid. Once in the wild, he will prefer to munch on a variety of crabs.

Only seven species of sea turtles exist worldwide and all seven are considered endangered or threatened. Four of those species--loggerhead, green, Kemp's ridley, and leatherback--occupy the waters around Long Island each summer and fall. The leading cause of death for local sea turtles is hypothermia, called "cold-stunning." Turtles who stay in local waters too late into the fall become disabled by the cold water temperature and they come up on the beach, often lifeless. These turtles can sometimes be fully rehabilitated by the stranding staff at the Riverhead Foundation. Unfortunately, the next two leading causes of death are caused by people: boat strikes and ingestion of marine debris in the water. A favorite food for a leatherback sea turtle is jellyfish, and a plastic lunch bag carelessly thrown in the ocean fills with water. To the sea turtle's poor eyes, it looks just like a delicious jellyfish.

Patch will be released this summer once he receives a clean bill of health. Later on this fall, when ocean temperatures begin to cool, Patch will migrate to coastal areas of the southeastern U.S. and spend the winter in warmer waters. However, the Marine Center will hopefully become home for another sea turtle, a Kemp's ridley, who is unable to be released due to a permanent injury. Folks are welcome to stop by the Marine Center and visit our sea turtle friend.