VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center’s Stranding Response Team helped a record number of cold-stunned, or hypothermic, sea turtles in recent months.
During the colder months, sea turtles, which are ectothermic animals, become vulnerable to sudden drops in ocean temperature. Their body temperature, regulated by their surroundings, can plummet in cold snaps, sending them into a state of shock which mimics a coma.
“These animals are debilitated. They’ve been floating for a long period of time,” explained Erin Bates, Stranding Response Rehabilitation Manager at the Virginia Aquarium. “When we get a cold snap or if they happen to be hanging out in warmer water and then they transition to waters that have gotten colder, their bodies will start to shut down.”…