Helping cold-stunned sea turtles

The FWC staff have been working diligently with FWC-authorized partners to respond to sea turtles affected by our recent low water and air temperatures in St. Joseph Bay in Gulf County, with the team and FWC officers in the region rescuing a total of 66 cold-stunned green turtles.

When water temps drop to 50 degrees Fahrenheit or below, sea turtles may become cold-stunned, where they become weak and unable to swim. Cold-stunned sea turtles may float listlessly in the water on or near shore. Although these turtles may appear to be dead, they are often still alive.

If you see injured, distressed or dead sea turtles, please report it to the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

Learn more about how cold-stunning affects turtles: https://bit.ly/3StNrP0