4 more cold-stunned sea turtles found in Southeast Georgia taken to Georgia Sea Turtle Center

JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga. — Four more cold-stunned sea turtles were found in Southeast Georgia this week and are getting help from Georgia Sea Turtle Center.

Action News Jax told you earlier this week about a “juvenile green sea turtle” was found Monday night by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources stranded at the 10th Street Beach Access on St. Simons Island, according to GSTC.

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When the turtle arrived at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island for treatment, its body temperature was 47 degrees.

PHOTOS: Cold-stunned sea turtle found on St. Simons Island

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Cold stunned sea turtle rescued on St. Simons Island Cold-stunned sea turtle found on St. Simons Island being treated at Georgia Sea Turtle Center (Georgia Sea Turtle Center)

Action News Jax First Alert Weather Chief Meteorologist Mike Buresh said the air temperature on St. Simons Island Monday night was 32 degrees and the water temperature was 57 degrees.

Here are details from GSTC about the other four cold-stunned juvenile green sea turtles and where they were found:

• Tuesday, 12/27/22: The first sea turtle that morning was found on the north end of Jekyll Island near Clam Creek fishing pier and the second one was found on the beach near the Holiday Inn Resort on Jekyll Island -- both were were at 54 degrees upon arrival at GSTC.
• Wednesday, 12/28/22: Two cold stunned sea turtles that came in Wednesday were found stranded on Tuesday, but could not be transported to the Center until Wednesday. One was found on Cumberland Island and the other was found on Little Cumberland Island. Both turtles came in at 54 degrees.

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According to the NOAA, sea turtles are susceptible to cold-stunning, which is a form of hypothermia, when water temperatures get below 50 degrees.

The Georgia Sea Turtle Center said it will receive one to two cold-stunned sea turtles from Georgia per year and they are usually from Cumberland Island or Little Cumberland Island.

GSTC said treatment for cold-stunned sea turtles involves slowly rewarming the turtles to match the water temperature to their body temperature. The temperature will be raised 5 degrees per day. If the temperature is raised too quickly, it can create physiological changes that can cause the turtles to become stressed or shocked. The turtles will also receive supportive care that could include blood work, radiographs, diagnostics, and wound management if they have any wounds.

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The timeline for the turtles’ release back into the wild will depend on how it responds to treatment, GSTC said.

GSTC said cold-stunning is unpredictable and solely based on the weather. The greater drops in temperature, the greater the likelihood of more sea turtles being impacted.

Since 2007, GSTC has helped over 1,500 sick, stranded or injured patients. Anni, the 1,000th sea turtle patient arrived at the facility on April 20, 2022, and was released earlier this year.

PHOTOS: 4 more cold-stunned sea turtles found in Southeast Georgia taken to Georgia Sea Turtle Center

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4 more cold-stunned sea turtles found in Southeast Georgia taken to Georgia Sea Turtle Center Four more cold-stunned sea turtles were found in Southeast Georgia this week and are getting help from Georgia Sea Turtle Center. (Jekyll Island Authority)

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