With the most recent winter storms that have slammed the South and the Eastern Seaboard, endangered sea turtles have endured more than a dozen deaths. A rescue effort was started in early February where over 130 sea turtles were rescued from the freezing rain and low tides.
Other marine mammals, such as dolphins and manatees, cannot warm themselves during these weather conditions, and sea turtles often experience hypothermia-like conditions. “When it comes to wildlife, it seems the turtles had the most trouble,” says FWC wildlife biologist Alley Foley.
Several of the turtles rescued were green seas turtles. The rescued turtles were taken to the Gulf World Marine Park in Panama City Beach, and they were released after some treatment.
The weather was terrible in the Panhandle of Florida with water temperatures dipping as low as 37 degrees. Other sea creatures such as lady fish, sea urchins and horseshoe crabs were found dead during the turtle rescue effort. In addition to those sea creatures, five pelicans were rescued and treated for hypothermia, and there may have been several birds that may not have survived the unusual weather conditions.
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