COLD STUNNED TURTLES RETURN HOME — Cold stunned turtles rescued from icy bay waters were released into the warmer surf waters on North Padre Island recently by personnel and volunteers from Padre Island National Seashore, Animal Rehabilitation Keep (ARK), Texas Sea Life Center and U.S. Coast Guard.
Some 108 green turtles were released into the surf at Padre Island National Seashore Dec. 19. The turtles were rescued and warmed up during the last few weeks of November and early December. Releasing them into the surf enables the turtles to disperse into the warmer Gulf of Mexico waters, rather than the cold bay waters where most of the turtles were found.
Around 600 people attended the release to help and to cheer the turtles on.
Cold-stunned turtles die without help
When a severe cold front drastically drops water temperatures along the Gulf Coast, already endangered green sea turtles wash up on shore stunned by the cold.
Cold-stunning is a major threat to the green sea turtle population in Texas. The only way to help is through search and rescue. The quicker the turtles are found, the more likely they will be saved.
“The best treatment is to actually warm them gradually,” said Dr. Donna Shaver, a turtle expert at the Padre Island National Seashore. Turtles are brought into the National Seashore’s facilities, where temperatures are kept in the 60s. After the turtles start moving again, they are transported to the rehabilitation center at the Animal Rehabilitation Keep (ARK) in Port Aransas.
In 2011, more than 1,600 sea turtles washed ashore across Texas. Shaver asked for beach-goers to be on the lookout for beached turtles and to call (361) 949-8173 ext. 226 during business hours or (361) 876-8462 after hours if they see any.
You can follow news of the winter travails of sea turtles on the Padre Island National Seashore Facebook page.