Texas wildlife rescue teams have been working around the clock to care for cold-stunned sea turtles after a winter storm and Arctic air invasion caused water temperatures in the Gulf to plummet.
When water temperatures on the bay side of the Gulf drop below 50 degrees, sea turtles are unable to regulate their body temperature and can become "cold-stunned." In this weakened state, the animals are highly vulnerable to health issues, including pneumonia, infections and physical injuries.
Sea turtle rescue operations in Corpus Christi, Texas after plunging water temperatures caused hundreds of sea turtles to become cold stunned. Photo courtesy Texas State Aquarium Wildlife Rescue
The Texas State Aquarium Wildlife Rescue Center took in 332 cold-stunned green sea turtles, while more than 550 turtles were collected by all rescue partners across the Corpus Christi area.
"Partner organizations, working tirelessly to rescue cold-stunned sea turtles from the frigid waters, transported them in large moving trucks, vehicles and trailers packed to capacity. Upon arrival, each sea turtle was thoroughly assessed and treated by the Aquarium's veterinary team for cold-stunning and any related conditions," the Texas State Aquarium wrote.
