In January 2026, rescuers saved more than a thousand cold-stunned sea turtles along the Texas coast, thanks in part to funding provided by the Sea Turtle Early Restoration Project. This project, which is funded with Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment settlement funds, supports rescue and response efforts for stranded sea turtles along the Texas coast. Cold-stunning is a major natural threat to sea turtles in Texas, and there have been severe events in recent years.
Cold-stunning occurs when water temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Sea turtles’ heart rates and circulation slow; they become lethargic and are unable to swim causing them to float at the surface. If temperatures remain low and they are not rescued, they can die.
In late January 2026, air temperatures along the Texas coast fell to a frigid 27 degrees Fahrenheit and water temperatures to 42 degrees Fahrenheit, resulting in a large cold-stunning event. During the multi-day rescue and recovery effort, at least 1,126 live cold-stunned sea turtles were recovered.
Braving the cold and windy weather, rescuers from South Padre Island to Galveston patrolled the coastline on foot and in boats to search for cold-stunned sea turtles. They took the animals to several rehabilitation facilities where the sea turtles could slowly warm and receive medical care.
Working Together
The many rescuers included volunteers and employees of State and Federal agencies, universities, non-governmental organizations, and invested members of nearby communities. As the sea turtles were medically cleared and the water warmed, they were released back into the Gulf of America. Several public releases were held so that the public could share in the excitement of safely returning these rescued sea turtles back to their home. These public releases also serve to raise awareness about sea turtle conservation and are valuable public education opportunities.
The Sea Turtle Early Restoration Project was one of the first projects approved for the Texas Restoration Area. The project is managed by Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Texas General Land Office, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Department of the Interior.
This project has four components, one of which is to enhance the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network and their response, salvage, rehabilitation, and associated activities. In Texas, the Trustees distribute funds to a number of agencies and organizations that contribute to sea turtle stranding response and rehabilitation efforts including the National Park Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Coastal Fisheries and Law Enforcement Divisions, Sea Turtle, Inc., Texas A&M University at Galveston’s Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research, Texas Sealife Center, the Texas State Aquarium, and the University of Texas Marine Science Institute’s Amos Rehabilitation Keep.
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