green sea turtle
Recent cold temperatures threatened the lives of several sea turtles, which were collected off the icy sands along North Padre Island, warmed up and are now ready to be released back into the wild. A public release of recently rehabilitated sea turtles is set for 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28 at Padre Island National Seashore.
Releases are held in front of the Malaquite Visitor Center and are free. Just tell the ranger at the guard post you are there for the release and he or she will let you in.
At 1:30 p.m., rangers give a public briefing about how the cold could kill these already endangered sea creatures. The public release begins at 2 p.m.
When a severe cold front drastically drops water temperatures along the Gulf Coast, sea turtles can get so cold their bodies cease to function. 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.
The release could be postponed for weather reasons, so be sure to check before heading out. For more information call 361-949-7163 or visit the parks Facebook page.
