MyFWC
After a once-in-a-lifetime snowstorm pelted the Florida Panhandle with up to 8 inches of snow earlier this week officials from Florida Fish & Wildlife sprung to action to help save the sea turtles. Anytime the water temperature dips below 50 degrees sea turtles can experience a ‘cold stun’ which can be fatal due to hypothermia-like symptoms.
On Thursday, the official MyFWC account shared photos of wildlife officers in the field rescuing 30 sea turtles that were impacted by the anomalous frigid weather.
These Florida wildlife officers are specifically trained to rescue sea turtles and are Marine Turtle Permit Holders. Once rescued the turtles will be kept at local facilities until a time when it is safe to release them back into the Gulf of Mexico near where they were rescued.
MyFWC
MyFWC
Sea turtles can survive in water temperatures between 60 and 80F. Currently, where I’m at in SW Florida which is hundreds of miles south of where these sea turtles were rescued, the water temperature in the Gulf is 60.6F.
In Cape San Blas, Florida which is in Gulf County where the turtles were rescued the water temperature in the Gulf is 54.3F and has fallen nearly a full degree from yesterday. The water is FRIGID and far too cold for the sea turtles in the area. So this rescue operation was badly needed to ensure the turtles can survive until the cold spell passes.
On social media, MyFWC put out a message asking for help from the public. It reads “If you see injured, distressed or dead sea turtles, please report it immediately to our Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) so that trained responders can assist. We work with FWC-authorized Marine Turtle Permit Holders who are trained to rescue sea turtles.”
This week has been the rare occurrence where Florida is/was actually as cold as much of the United States is during the Winter. Parts of Florida experienced all-time record snowfall. Tomorrow is supposed to be the coldest day of the Winter (so far) here but temps will climb back up to the mid-to-upper 70s next week. Hopefully the local flora and fauna can catch a break as the temps rise.