FWC officers brave extreme cold to rescue sea turtles in Gulf County

GULF COUNTY — Several Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers took to the seas during the recent winter storm to help out sea turtles.

Over the course of two days, Tuesday and Wednesday, (Jan. 21-22) four FWC officers were off the coast of Gulf County rescuing cold-stunned sea turtles.

In total, they were able to rescue 30 sea turtles of different species, mainly loggerhead and greens.

Officer Christopher Boley, FWC public information officer for the agency’s Panama City Beach office, explained that when temperatures get below a certain point, it begins rendering the turtles unable to swim. They then float to the surface, where winds and tides could wash them ashore.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, if temperatures remain low or the turtles aren’t rescued, they can get sick or die.

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Once the turtles were rescued, FWC officers took them to authorized marine turtle permit holders who are trained in their rescue and rehabilitation.

“They (the officers) braved the freezing water in Gulf County to rescue 30 sea turtles,” the FWC said in a Facebook post. “Their hard work exemplifies the spirit of dedication to our mission to protect wildlife for their long-term success.”

The agency went on to say that it will continue to locate and rescue sea turtles in northwest Florida as cold temperatures persist.

If readers stumble upon injured, distressed or dead sea turtles, they’re urged to report it to the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Winter storm stuns sea turtles in Gulf County; FWC to the rescue