Thousands of Endangered Sea Turtles Are ‘Cold-Stunned’ Due to Freezing Temperatures in Texas
A rare ice and snowstorm swept through Texas last week, leaving millions of residents without power or heat. But Texans aren’t the only ones adapting to the record-breaking temperatures. Thousands of endangered green sea turtles are “cold-stunned,” experts say.
“Cold-stun events happen when the water gets too cold for sea turtles to maintain their body temperature,” Sea Turtle Inc., an organization caring for the rescued turtles, wrote in a statement.
Like all reptiles, sea turtles are cold-blooded and therefore cannot regulate their body temperatures, according to the National Park Service. Water temperatures below 50°F can cause sea turtles to become lethargic, impacting their ability to swim, so they float up to the surface and risk being hit by boats or washed ashore.
“This is the biggest sea turtle cold-stunned event in south Texas,” Sea Turtle Inc. wrote in a Facebook post. Thousands of sea turtles along Padre Island have been impacted; about 5,000 have been rescued and are being treated at Sea Turtle Inc.’s facilities.
But the severe weather conditions in Texas created additional challenges as the facility was left without power and heat for days. Volunteers at the organization had to remove the sea turtles from their tanks and allow them to be “dry docked” on the floor while they waited for power to restore and warm their tanks.
“Our patients need warm water and heat to stay alive,” Sea Turtle Inc. executive director Wendy Knight revealed in a Facebook post on Wednesday. But the good news is aerospace manufacturer SpaceX provided the organization with a large generator to restore power to its main facility and heat water for the turtles.
“So as we speak, our patients are warming up to the temperature they need to be, and we’re going to be able to assess the damage that has been done,” Knight said. In the meantime, the organization and a team of volunteers are continuing to search for more cold-stunned turtles in and around Padre Island and provide them with care.
Sea Turtle Inc. wrote on Facebook that they’re at max capacity for volunteers, but the organization is accepting donations as they continue to care for the endangered sea turtles during this critical time. “The response of you following our message and sharing our story and your volunteer hours of your time has been overwhelming. Thank you again,” Knight said on Facebook.
You can donate to Sea Turtle Inc. here.
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