Cold-Stunned Sea Turtles Still Flooding Into Aquarium

CLEARWATER, FL — While temperatures have been up over the past few days, the number of cold-stunned sea turtles under care at Clearwater Marine Aquarium hasn’t decreased.

The aquarium announced late last week that in the past month it had taken in more cold-stunned sea turtles than in all of 2015. With another cold snap anticipated to arrive Wednesday, the aquarium is putting out word that it is “in desperate need of resources to continue in our rescue and rehab efforts.”

While Duke Energy of Florida pays for the aquarium’s year-round sea turtle program, this year’s bumper crop of stunned turtles has stretched the hospital and its current funding to the limit, aquarium officials says. To help cover costs, the aquarium launched Operation Cold Stun earlier this month with a goal of raising an additional $25,000. That amount has been raised, but the aquarium says it needs to surpass the original goal because the number of intakes continues to rise.

The turtles taken in by the aquarium require 24-hour care. That care may include surgery, tube feeding, blood draw, medications, monitoring and more, aquarium officials say.

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“As cold-blooded reptiles, sea turtles assume the temperature of their surroundings,” explained Becca Romzek, aquarium spokeswoman. “When the turtles are exposed to frigid water temperatures (around 50 degrees Fahrenheit) over several days, their circulatory systems can slow to the point where they become cold-stunned.”

When turtles become cold stunned, they are unable to swim or function properly. That puts them at risk of being hit by a boat, she added.

With that in mind, Tampa Bay area residents are urged to contact the aquarium’s stranding line at 747-441-1790, Ext. 1, if they spot distressed turtles in the wild. Aquarium staff will come out and evaluate the animal’s condition and determine if care is required, Romzek said.

The Clearwater aquarium’s intakes come from the state of Florida. Most have been rescued within Pinellas County, but that’s not always the case, she added.

While cold alone is enough to cause problems for sea turtles, this year’s crop of rescues faces another complication. Nearly all of the cold-stun rescue turtles have fibropapilloma tumors.

“The fibropapilloma virus is highly contagious and compromises the immune system, which makes the turtle especially vulnerable to colder weather,” Romzek said.

Since treatment for the tumors involves laser removal and up to a year of rehabilitation, the cost for care can become expensive. While Duke Energy of Florida funds the aquarium’s year-round sea turtle program, the sudden influx of rescues has stretched the hospital and its funding to the limit, she said.

To cover the funding gap, the aquarium has launched Operation Cold Stun. Money collected from the online fundraiser will “directly support the care of these new patients,” Romzek said. “We need to create ‘turtle beds’ to warm up the animals, requiring large tubs and towels, along with more medical equipment to administer treatments.”

To find out more about Operation Cold Stun or to make a donation, visit the aquarium online.

Photo courtesy of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium

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