Wildlife officials and volunteers scrambled to rescue hundreds of cold-stunned sea turtles from shallow Texas waters near Corpus Christi as temperatures plunged this week.
The threatened green sea turtles became immobilized in Laguna Madre, unable to escape to warmer waters. The mass rescue effort highlights the vulnerability of these protected reptiles to extreme weather events. Every turtle saved matters for a species still recovering from decades of decline.
Unlike mammals, sea turtles cannot regulate their body temperature. When water drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, fish become hypothermic and lethargic—a condition known as cold stunning.
Unable to swim, the turtles float helplessly at the surface. They face threats from boat strikes, predators, and fatal shock.
“These turtles may not have enough time to navigate out of Laguna Madre and into the deeper, warmer waters of the Gulf of Mexico before becoming cold-stunned,” the National Park Service said, per Fox 4 KDFW.
Many eventually wash ashore along Padre Island National Seashore.
The Sea Turtle Science and Recovery program increased patrols by foot and boat. Partner agencies joined the effort to locate stranded turtles before it was too late. More than 1,000 cold-stunned sea turtles have been rescued by Texas Game Wardens, Texas Parks and Wildlife staff, partner organizations, and volunteers over the last few days.
Rescued turtles first go to a specialized laboratory for documentation. Staff then transport them to permitted rehabilitation facilities for recovery.
Most victims are juvenile green sea turtles seeking food in the shallow bay. The turtles range from dinner-plate size to as large as car tires, weighing up to 100 pounds.
“Their numbers are still too low to afford losses,” the park service noted, per Fox 4. Human-made shipping channels compound the problem by luring turtles away from the open Gulf.
Release dates remain uncertain and depend on warming water temperatures. Until then, the race continues to save as many turtles as possible from winter’s grip.
