MULTIMEDIA RELEASE: Coast Guard, partner agencies release sea turtles affected by winter storm near Corpus Christi, Texas

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 02/22/2021 09:19 PM EST

united states coast guard 

 News Release  

U.S. Coast Guard 8th District Public Affairs Detachment Texas
Coast Guard Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi Public Affairs
361-438-0176
PA Detachment Texas online newsroom

Coast Guard, partner agencies release sea turtles affected by winter storm near Corpus Christi, Texas

Sea Turtle B-Roll

Lt. Milanese and a Texas Game Warden carry a rehabilitated turtle from a transport truck to a Texas Game Warden small boat at Station Port Aransas, Texas, Feb. 22, 2021, where the turtle will be transported safely out to sea. On Feb. 18, various local volunteers helped rescue an accumulative of over 400 cold-stunned sea turtles, who were then transported to local rehabilitation centers. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Dickinson) A crewmember from Coast Guard Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi carries a rehabilitated turtle from a transport truck to a Texas Game Warden small boat at Station Port Aransas, Texas, Feb. 22, 2021, where the turtle will be transported safely out to sea. On Feb. 18, various local volunteers helped rescue an accumulative of over 400 cold-stunned sea turtles, who were then transported to local rehabilitation centers. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Dickinson)Rear Adm. John P. Nadeau, commander of Coast Guard Eighth District, carries a rehabilitated turtle from a transport truck to a Coast Guard small boat at Station Port Aransas, Texas, Feb. 22, 2021, where the turtle will be transported safely out to sea. On Feb. 18, various local volunteers helped rescue an accumulative of over 400 cold-stunned sea turtles, who were then transported to local rehabilitation centers. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Dickinson) Rehabilitated turtles rest on the deck of a Station Port Aransas 45-foot Response Boat - Medium at Station Port Aransas, Texas, Feb. 22, 2021, waiting to be transported safely out to sea. On Feb. 18, various local volunteers helped rescue an accumulative of over 400 cold-stunned sea turtles, who were then transported to local rehabilitation centers. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Dickinson)

Editors' Note: Click on images to download a high-resolution version.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Coast Guard and partner agencies released approximately 146 sea turtles displaced by a recent winter storm near Corpus Christi, Texas, Monday.

Coast Guard Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi and Station Port Aransas crewmembers worked alongside Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Wardens, Texas State Aquarium personnel, and volunteers to release the sea turtles back into the Gulf of Mexico.

Thursday, the Coast Guard and local volunteers rescued more than 1,000 cold-stunned sea turtles and transported them to local rehabilitation centers.

After being rehabilitated, approximately 146 sea turtles were released back into the water after personnel searched for areas of water with temperatures of at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit in order to safely release the turtles into.

More rehabilitated sea turtles are planned to be safely released throughout the week. 

“Working with our partners in the Texas State Aquarium and Texas Game Wardens to release these animals back into the wild is a surreal experience,” said Coast Guard Ensign Austin Sawicki. “Getting to play a small part in keeping the green sea turtle population safe is a very rewarding experience.”

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-USCG-