Historic Sea Turtle Release Draws Hundreds to Stewart Beach Following Cold-Stun Rescue Effort
Over 400 volunteers, families, spectators, and members of the media gathered at Stewart Beach yesterday to witness a meaningful moment of recovery and hope. More than 100 rehabilitated sea turtles were released back into the Gulf after an extensive multi-day rescue and rehabilitation effort.
The release marked the culmination of a historic response to cold stunning, coordinated by the Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research at Texas A&M University at Galveston, under the leadership of Dr. Christopher Marshall. This effort followed a powerful winter storm earlier in the week that caused Gulf water temperatures to drop to near-freezing levels.
“During cold-stun events, strong north winds can push paralyzed turtles onto shorelines and deep into marshes,” said Dr. Christopher Marshall, director of the Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research. “Our dedicated volunteers are on the ground in known hotspot locations conducting systematic surveys. Once a turtle is located, it is carefully transported to our hospital for stabilization and recovery. This is truly an extraordinary team effort.”
When sea turtles experience extreme cold, they can become cold-stunned. This condition paralyzes these cold-blooded animals, rendering them unable to swim and making them vulnerable to hypothermia, injury, and death.
Widespread Rescue Operation
In response to the storm, staff and state-approved volunteers mobilized along a wide stretch of coastline, conducting shoreline and marsh surveys from the Texas-Louisiana border to East Matagorda Bay. Throughout several days, this coordinated effort resulted in the rescue of over 150 cold-stunned sea turtles.
After being rescued, turtles were transported by boat and vehicle to the Center’s on-site hospital, where each animal underwent a thorough, multi-step rehabilitation process to ensure it was healthy enough for release into the Gulf.
The recovery process included:
- Weighing, measuring, photographing, and documenting each turtle
- Gradual warming under carefully controlled conditions
- Swim tests and full health evaluations
- Veterinary assessments conducted in partnership with the Houston Zoo
Only turtles that completed all stages of rehabilitation were cleared for release.
A Carefully Timed Return to the Gulf
The release was strategically timed to take advantage of a narrow weather window that provided optimal conditions for the turtles’ safe return to the Gulf. As volunteers and onlookers gathered along the beach, the turtles were carried to the shoreline and released. They swam energetically into the waves, symbolizing their recovery.
For many attendees, the event provided a rare and emotional insight into large-scale wildlife rescue and the effects of coordinated conservation efforts.
Public Asked to Report, Not Move, Stranded Turtles
The Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research reminds the public that community reporting plays a critical role in cold-stun rescues. Anyone who encounters a stranded or cold-stunned sea turtle is urged not to move the animal.
Instead, members of the public should:
- Call the 24-hour statewide Sea Turtle Stranding Hotline: 1-866-TURTLE-5
- Follow the prompts for their coastline
- Be prepared to provide photos and a precise GPS location or Google Maps pin
“Quick, accurate reporting can mean the difference between life and death for these animals,” Marshall said.
As the final turtles disappeared beneath the waves, today’s release stood as a testament to science, service, and community collaboration—and to what is possible when hundreds unite in the name of conservation.
Media Contact:
Toni Mooney Smith, MSC
[email protected]
