Turtle Talk: An Update on the Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research Patients

When temperatures plummeted in late December, volunteers and staff braved the sub-freezing weather in search of cold stunned turtles along Texas shores. The turtle search and rescue crew found five cold stunned green sea turtles, all of which are now in the care of the Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research. The care team anticipates that two of the five will soon be cleared for release back into the wild.

GCSTR also has seven other patients, five of which are Kemp’s Ridleys recovering from a cold stunning event in the Cape Cod area. The turtles from Cape Cod were flown into Scholes Airport – quite a journey for these five of the smallest species of sea turtles. Kemp’s Ridleys are most commonly found close to home in the Gulf of Mexico, however, they have been spotted as far north as Nova Scotia.

Wondering about Slash? Our sea turtle friend that was injured by a propeller last year is recovering well after his surgery to remove FP tumors. He will soon move to his new home at the San Antonio aquarium. Find out more about his journey back to health by reading Slash’s story.

Even though there has already been one cold stun event this season, it’s only January, so the cold weather is likely just getting started. Need a refresher on what to do when you find a turtle in distress? Watch our interview with marine biology professor and director of the Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research, Dr. Christopher Marshall.