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Sea Turtles Are Eating Plastic Because It Smells Like Their Food, Study Finds

Algae, plants and bacteria accumulate on ocean debris — emitting odors that cause turtles to confuse it for a tasty snack.

By Leslie Nemo
Mar 9, 2020 7:05 PMOct 17, 2022 1:33 PM
Loggerhead sea turtle
(Credit: Leonardo Gonzalez/Shutterstock)

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Sea turtles already struggled to survive before plastic debris showed up in their ocean habitats. On top of dodging predators from the minute they hatch, turtles now confuse bags and bottle caps for food — an attraction that often turns out to be fatal. 

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