And like whales, their feeding grounds are often at great distances from their breeding grounds. There is growing evidence that long distance migrations may be guided by magnetic cues. The records of five species of marine turtles are the only representatives of reptiles on the Bank. The other species use the Bank during the short season of late summer, visit sporadically with warm water episodes or are juveniles, lost from wandering or tossed by storms. Most sea turtle species are in considerable danger from human activity.
Many researchers are surprised that some of the species still exist.
All of the species mentioned below are listed as endangered by the U.S. Endangered Species Act except for the loggerhead, which is considered threatened. On Stellwagen and the surrounding coasts, there has been considerable interest in sea turtles, especially in fall when cold stunned individuals may wash ashore. These individuals can, in some instances, be rehabilitated and transported south to warmer environs. This also gives researchers a chance to answer some basic gaps in our knowledge of their biology. Even when found on the beach, there can be drastic differences between different age classes within the species.