First Turtles of the Cold-Stun Season Arrive at The Florida Aquarium

February 12, 2026

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Facing water temperatures that plunged into the 50s following the recent Arctic blast, hundreds of green sea turtles have stranded off the Gulf coast along Florida’s Panhandle. In just the past ten days, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has rescued more than 600 cold-stunned sea turtles.

FWC determined two of those turtles needed more than gradual warming and supportive care, prompting their transfer from northwest Florida for advanced treatment at The Florida Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center in Apollo Beach.

The juvenile green sea turtles – now named “Patriot” and “Seahawk” – arrived on Super Bowl Sunday and immediately underwent comprehensive intake exams. Specialists checked their eyes and heart rate, assessed barnacles and injuries, and performed swim tests to evaluate their strength and buoyancy.

“Cold stunning is incredibly dangerous because these turtles become lethargic and unable to swim, which makes them vulnerable to hypothermia, infection, and even drowning,” said Alyssa Fessett, Senior Biologist at The Florida Aquarium. “Patriot and Seahawk arrived weak, but with specialized veterinary care, therapy, and close monitoring, we’re hopeful they’ll recover and return to their ocean home.”

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD VIDEO, PHOTOS & SOUND FROM THE TURTLES’ ARRIVAL AND FIRST EXAMINATION
Courtesy: The Florida Aquarium

The Life-Threatening Impact of Cold Stunning
Cold stunning occurs when sea turtles are exposed to prolonged cold-water temperatures, typically below 50 degrees. The sudden drop leaves them immobile, floating at the surface or washing ashore, often requiring urgent rescue and intensive rehabilitation. While many cold-stunned turtles recover with gradual warming, some, like Patriot and Seahawk, require advanced medical care due to the severity of their condition.

See the Rehabilitation Work in Action
The public can see this lifesaving work firsthand at The Florida Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center, open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., November through April, with free admission. The facility includes four rehabilitation pools, a deep-dive foraging pool, and a state-of-the-art veterinary suite that allows teams to respond quickly to rescue needs.

To note: All sea turtle rehabilitation work conducted by The Florida Aquarium is done with the approval of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) under conditions not harmful to marine turtles and authorized under conservation activities pursuant to FWC MTP-26-179.