NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher rehabilitating cold-stunned sea turtles 

FORT FISHER, NC (WWAY) — Stunned by the sudden drop in temperatures, six green sea turtles and one Kemp’s ridley sea turtle are under the professional care of animal experts at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher.

Upon their arrival Tuesday, Jan. 14, the team weighed and measured them and observed them swimming in their temporary home behind the scenes at the Aquarium. It has been a record-breaking winter with nearly 900 cold-stunned sea turtles rescued in North Carolina—the majority initially landing at the Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation (STAR) Center at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island.

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 F (10 C).

“Cold-stunned sea turtles become lethargic and eventually are unable to swim causing them to float at the surface or wash up on beaches and in some cases drown,” said Stephanie Dwyer, assistant husbandry curator, NCAFF.

The animal care teams at the three Aquariums—Fort Fisher, Pine Knoll Shores and Roanoke Island care for weak or injured sea turtles throughout the year. All sea turtles are threatened or endangered and are protected by the Endangered Species Act.

If you see a turtle in the water or on the beach this time of year that is not moving or sluggish, do not push them back into the water or attempt to transport it yourself. Please call the Sea Turtle Stranding Hotline to report the turtle, and they will give instructions and send someone to retrieve and document the turtle. 

• South of Ocracoke Island, call 252-241-7367.
• Ocracoke & Hatteras Island, call Cape Hatteras National Seashore at 252-216-6892.
• Oregon Inlet and north, call N.E.S.T. at 252-441-8622.