News and Public Media for North Central Florida
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Turtle Deaths Could Be Linked To BP Oil Spill

WAVELAND, Miss. (AP) - So far this year, 48 dead sea turtles have washed ashore across the Gulf Coast, including one recovered Sunday and three on Saturday. Officials are working to find out the cause.

According to the AP, WLOX TV reportsthat members of the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies are working to determine if the turtle deaths are linked to the 2010 BP oil spill.

IMMS veterinarian technician Wendy Hatchett said officials are concerned with the spike in deaths. Officials won't know whether it's red tide or deaths left over from the oil spill until tissue can be analyzed, Hatchett said.

The Associated Press is a wire service to which WUFT News subscribes.