All sea turtle species found in United States waters are either threatened or endangered and are federally protected. If the animal you've found is a sea turtle (a turtle with flippers), it is best to alert the local authorities (department of natural resources, police department, harbormaster, or animal control agency).

In order to determine whether the sea turtle you've found is in need of assistance, it is helpful to know about the natural history of sea turtles in your area. In warmer coastal areas, sea turtles may come to the beaches to nest. They normally nest at night and may not, by law, be disturbed. Most sea turtle nesting beaches are marked with signs alerting visitors about when the beach is closed because of nesting.

In northern waters, sea turtles may occasionally become "cold-stunned" and wash onto a beach with the tide. This generally occurs in November and December. Turtles found in this state may not move at all and may even appear to be dead. Avoid putting them back into the ocean water, as this may weaken them further. Call local authorities (the police or the harbormaster) and ask them for permission to move the turtle above the high tide line. The turtle can then be covered with dry seaweed or eelgrass and the spot clearly marked with beach debris. This will allow the appropriate authorities to find the turtle quickly.

On Cape Cod, the Cape Cod Sea Turtle Stranding Network (508-349-2615) patrols beaches during the sea turtle stranding season, picking up cold-stunned animals and taking them promptly to an appropriate emergency care facility.