Florida Wildlife Officers Save 30 Cold-Stunned Sea Turtles During Frigid Weather
Michelle Milliken
Facebook / MyFWC Florida Fish and Wildlife
A recent cold spell across the Southeast led to rare snow accumulation and temperatures far below their usual levels. This has had an impact on marine life, but wildlife officials have been hard at work lending a hand.
In a recent Facebook post, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission highlighted two of its officers, who managed to save 30 cold-stunned sea turtles in the frigid waters in Gulf County, located along the coast of the panhandle. The post noted the pair were “undeterred even during this historic weather event in Florida.”
The agency shared photos of the officers’ boat, the bottom of which was completely covered with turtle shells. The officers also had big smiles, happy to have rescued the animals. The post noted that this was just part of a broader effort to search for and rescue sea turtles in need along the northwest coast.
The agency wrote, “Their hard work exemplifies the spirt of dedication to our mission to protect wildlife for their long-term success.”
According to the commission, loggerhead, green, and Kemp’s ridley turtles all live along the Florida coast. They can’t keep themselves warm, so when temperatures get colder than usual, it becomes dangerous for them. At water and air temperatures below 50 degrees, turtles can become lethargic or “stunned”. Due to their limited movement, or complete lack thereof, they are often moved around with strong winds or currents.

State officials have a system in place to help, though. Residents who spot a cold-stunned turtle can call a Wildlife Alert Hotline, which allows trained responders to provide appropriate care.
All sea turtle species in the United States are facing threats to their survival, and, as such, are protected under the Endangered Species Act. If you’d like to learn about how to help with turtle conservation, click here!

Michelle has a journalism degree and has spent more than seven years working in broadcast news. She's also been known to write some silly stuff for humor websites. When she's not writing, she's probably getting lost in nature, with a fully-stocked backpack, of course.