Texas Sea Turtles Rescued by the Thousands After Succumbing to ‘Cold Shock’

There are a number of terribly troubling storylines playing out in Texas right now, and some are simply more unique than others.

The issue is a massive snowstorm and cold snap that pummeled the Lone Star State earlier this week, and completely befuddled Texas power companies.  Instead of properly executing a rolling blackout plan to save power en masse, the famously independent companies failed miserably, and Texans across the state have been suffering for days without power.

The conditions, as well as the lack of power, has made trouble for some of Texas’ most fabled critters as well, including thousands of Sea Turtles who’ve succumbed to shock on account of the cold.

Conservation group Sea Turtle, Inc. said it has already rescued approximately 4,000 “cold-stunned” turtles from Texas beaches on Wednesday morning.

Sea Turtle, Inc. has already reached capacity at their South Padre Island facility by the time they spoke to CBS News on Wednesday. But many more of the shelled reptiles still need help. As the overflow are sent to the city’s convention center, Executive Director Wendy Knight told CBS News that SpaceX provided them with a generator to restore power for their ongoing work during the aftermath of Winter Storm Uri.

Twitter users soon flooded the platform with photos of the stranded turtles.

KEEPING WARM: Thousands of cold-stunned sea turtles are inside the South Padre Island Convention Centre after volunteers rescued more than 3,500 of them from freezing temperatures amid a record-breaking winter storm. https://t.co/ZFy8N1HIht pic.twitter.com/sF0hWoThem

— ABC News (@ABC) February 17, 2021

Texas Game Wardens assigned to Cameron county rescued 141 sea turtles from the frigid waters of the Brownsville Ship Channel and surrounding bays. The sea turtles were transported via the PV Murchison, operated by Sgt. Game Warden Duke and B/M Bowers-Vest. pic.twitter.com/LqFBrElTog

— Texas Game Warden (@TexasGameWarden) February 17, 2021

Never seen so many strangers work together for the greater good like this. Saved 500+ sea turtles today pic.twitter.com/gvDqWsejPJ

— ?????? ??? ? (@_lizzyhamilton) February 17, 2021

Zoos and sanctuaries are also suffering from the power losses, particularly when attempting to keep other cold-blooded creatures safe and secure.