Florida Freeze and Turtle Rescue
I’m sure many of you know that Florida has been hit by the worst series of cold temperatures in decades resulting in a huge loss of crops and wildlife. We recognize that you have also been in a record breaking deep freeze, but we thought you might be interested in what these temperatures have done to the sea turtles in North and East Central Florida.
Sea turtles (green, loggerhead, and other species) live in the ocean or brackish waters in the local rivers and lagoons. They are reptiles and as such they are cold blooded and very susceptible to the effects of cold temperatures. They can take a little cold as long as it is not too low and only for a short time. Well, these last two weeks in Florida with freezing night-time temperatures and days barely out of the 30s have been more than what the turtles could take. They became disoriented, lethargic and, by the hundreds, came up on shore and on the banks of the Banana River, Mosquito Lagoon, and other brackish water ways. It was a tragic sight and many of them were dead or dying.
Well, our area here is not short of people who will volunteer in a rescue project
of this type. A receiving center was set up in the heated maintenance shop of the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge and dozens of
Refuge volunteers and local citizens began work to save as many of the turtles as could be done. Over several days hundreds of
turtles (more than 800 at last count) of all sizes and varieties were brought to the Refuge. There the turtles were warmed,
evaluated by experts, and plans made to sent them on to other facilities for treatment and eventual return to the sea. As an
example of one effort, Deborah and I made two trips in a 15 passenger van (from which the seats had been removed) with turtles for
the Fish Hatchery in Welaka, about a 200 mile round trip. The first load was seven turtles of varying sizes and the second load
was of four turtles two of which were over 400 pounds. It was really quite a sight to see these “big boys” (actually all
were females), who were lethargic in the van come alive when they hit the water. It was also a sight to see the three guys at
the Hatchery, all of whom were big boys themselves, handle the 400+ pound green turtle and lift her into the water tank four
feet off the floor.
Deborah and I have been volunteers at the Wildlife Refuge for more than a year,
but our effort was tiny compared to what so many others did and are still doing in this rescue effort. Many have worked for 20
hours or more, caught a few hours sleep, and were right back on the job. Credit should also go to the many citizens who drove
around looking for stranded turtles and then bringing them to the Refuge. Unfortunately a few of the turtles were lost, but this
effort saved hundreds from certain death. Thankfully, temperatures are beginning to return to normal (warm) and the worst may be
over.
Joe and Deborah
