–A volunteer perspective of stunned sea turtles
by Carol Rausch
On February 14, 2021 the water in the Laguna Madre dipped below 55 degrees. At that point, the sea turtles that were foraging in the bay began to develop hypothermia. At some point, the turtles became stunned and either tried to beach themselves or were borne by the currents to various beaches along the bay. The terrible tragedy begins.
I was called in on Sunday, February 14 to answer the turtle stranding hotline. To complicate the catastrophe, the island and others in Texas had no water and no electricity. The stranding phone was the only phone that had power. The phone never stopped, and calls came in from everywhere. Since we only had the one working phone, I’m sure I missed some calls, but it was overwhelming.
I began receiving phone calls of help from folks that had seen turtles floating or had picked them up. Many volunteers had been sent out to various locations to look for and pick up turtles that they found. Soon the Sea Turtle, Inc facility was covered with stunned turtles on every available space in the Education building and in the pools, which were prepared for them. There was no more space and the calls and turtles kept coming in.
The Sea Turtle, Inc leadership made arrangements to use the South Padre Island Convention Center to house the excess turtles. Tarps were arranged on the floor and soon turtles covered the entire floor and the two wings of the building. Cars were lined up outside the center carrying more stunned turtles.
Volunteers poured in from as far away as Laredo and donations came from everywhere. One lady from Colorado was so desperate to help that she contacted Blackbeard’s and told us to order what food we needed for the staff and volunteers and she would pay for it.
It was amazing to see the efforts of so many people who wanted to help during the crisis. Everyone wanted to volunteer but we couldn’t put everyone to work so they sent us supplies, eye lubricant for the turtles; they sent us kiddie pools, tarps, paper towels, gloves, and generators. Hope awakens…
Everyone wanted to help even though the bathrooms had no water, and we had no light or heat in the building. The wind was blowing outside and the temperatures were so very cold. We had to turn volunteers away, so they gave us food and money. The love and caring for God’s creatures were heartwarming. HOPE.
As I sat in the Convention Center answering calls, I would look out at the thousands of turtles on the floor next to me. They looked like gray stones, dirty, smelly, and cold. They didn’t move or make any noise. They just laid there, quiet, and we didn’t know if they would live or die.
And then, hope, after about two or three days, there was a head that would peak up, very slowly and then lay down again. A flipper would move, very slowly, and then lay down again. And then, they would poop. I was told that was a really good sign that a turtle might make it.
We had volunteers that would work many hours cleaning up the poop. A dirty job for sure, but that turtle might make it. HOPE…
By Friday, we had over 5000 stunned turtles. Some were waking up and some never moved. The vets from Gladys Porter Zoo, from NOAA, and Texas Parks and Wildlife assessed and treated each turtle.
On Saturday, the turtles that survived, over 2200, were quietly released many miles offshore where the waters were warmer, and the deceased were buried in a secret and secure location.
This weather event caused the largest stunned and stranded sea turtle event in the history of the United States. A tragedy, but there is hope. Remarkably, 2400 turtles survived and the hearts of thousands of people all over the United States were opened. Hope for the future. . .
The staff and volunteers at Sea Turtle, Inc. did an incredible job under extremely difficult and challenging circumstances. They deserve our admiration, respect, and assistance whenever possible. I am grateful to have participated in a small way to provide hope for our future.