March 25, 2010
CMA staff released 11 sea turtles back into the wild from Honeymoon Island in Dunedin. For the past two months, the turtles have been recovering from “cold stun,” which was the result of the recent record-low temperatures. The waters have warmed up and the turtles are once again ready to live in their natural environments. Nine Greens and two Hawksbills were released.
CMA staff and volunteers have treated about 120 sea turtles with “cold stun” since January. This condition happens when the temperature of the water drops below 50 degrees for a sustained amount of time, and their metabolic rate drops below maintenance levels, and they begin to stun. As a result, they stop swimming and eating. CMA staff has already released 65 of them.
April 1 marks the beginning of sea turtle nesting season and CMA staff will once again monitor Pinellas County beaches daily for nests. During the night, from May through September, the 350-pound female sea turtles come ashore to deposit their eggs.
Since 2002, Clearwater Marine Aquarium has released more than 200 rescued sea turtles. Last year alone, CMA rescued 79 sea turtles, rehabilitated 27 and released 18 of them. CMA is currently home to 13 turtles, including four different species (Kemp’s Ridley, Loggerhead, Green and Hawksbill). The Kemp’s Ridley is the most endangered of all sea turtles.
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