Wildlife officials released 100 rehabilitated sea turtles into the Gulf of Mexico near Galveston after rescuing about 150 cold-stunned turtles during a recent freeze. Fifty-two turtles died following the cold snap.
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On Thursday, wildlife crews successfully returned one hundred cold-stunned sea turtles to the Gulf of Mexico. These turtles were rescued during the arctic blast that impacted the Texas coast last weekend.
The Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research at Texas A&M University successfully coordinated the release of sea turtles near Stewart Beach, in collaboration with the Houston Zoo and the Galveston Island Park Board, after several days of treatment and monitoring.
Approximately 150 turtles were rescued during the recent freeze, according to Chris Marshall, director of the Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, sudden drops in water temperature can lead to cold-stunning in sea turtles, resulting in weakness, lethargy, and an inability to swim.
Marshall reported, “Recently, our teams have been conducting patrols through the marshes and navigating the bays to rescue cold-stunned turtles, transporting them to our hospital for care.”
Search teams conducted extensive operations along the coastline, spanning from the Texas-Louisiana border to East Matagorda Bay, successfully retrieving turtles that had become stranded in shallow bays and marshes.
Some of the rescued turtles did not survive the ordeal. According to Marshall, a total of 52 turtles perished as a result of the recent cold snap.
Following a rise in temperatures and the warming of Gulf waters to safer levels, wildlife teams successfully cleared 100 turtles for release. On Thursday morning, volunteers and staff members transported the rehabilitated turtles across the sandy shore and into the ocean waves.
Cold-stunning events are reported to occur once or twice annually, triggered by sudden drops in temperature that exceed the capacity of reptiles to adapt, as these creatures depend on external heat sources for thermoregulation. In a remarkable rescue operation during Winter Storm Uri in 2021: over 13,000 green sea turtles were successfully saved along the Texas coast, according to Marshall.
Marshall has called on the public to report any stranded or cold-stunned turtles, advising against independent handling of the animals.
Individuals who come across a stranded sea turtle are encouraged to contact 866-TURTLE-5 to notify the appropriate responders.
Wildlife officials have announced that ongoing monitoring efforts will persist throughout the winter season to assess the potential impact of fluctuating temperatures on additional turtles.
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