More than 130 sea turtles have been released into the Gulf Stream, off the North Carolina coast, after recovering from cold stunning, or hypothermia, brought on by a drastic drop in water temperature.The US Coast Guard helped the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission in launching a rescue operation after a cold snap in North Carolina sent temperatures below freezing in parts of the state. Over a hundred cold-stunned green sea turtles were found floating or washed ashore.
After spending some time in a rehabilitation facility, the turtles were taken 15 to 20 miles offshore to warmer waters where the Coast Guard crew, with their family members, released the turtles.
As with other reptiles, sea turtles rely on their external environment to regulate their body temperature and cold stunning occurs when water temperatures drop below 10° Celsius.
Written by: Justin Phillips
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