Cold stunned sea turtles arrive to NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher

FORT FISHER, NC (WWAY) — Six Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are under the professional care of animal experts at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher after being cold stunned due to recent cold weather.

Upon their arrival on January 26th, the team weighed and measured them and observed them swimming in their temporary home behind the scenes at the Aquarium. The Kemp’s ridleys are among 200 cold-stunned sea turtles that have been in the care of the three North Carolina Aquariums in recent weeks.

Cold-stunning causes sea turtles to become very weak and inactive from exposure to cold temperatures. It generally occurs when water temperatures fall below 50 degrees.

“Sea turtles are reptiles and are not able to strictly regulate their body temperature like mammals and birds,” said Stephanie Dwyer, assistant husbandry curator, NCAFF. “Cold-stunned sea turtles become lethargic and eventually are unable to swim causing them to float at the surface or wash up on beaches.”

The NC Aquariums at Fort Fisher (NCAFF), Pine Knoll Shores (NCAPKS), and on Roanoke Island (NCARI), also home to the renowned Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation (STAR) Center, care for weak or injured sea turtles throughout the year.