The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is calling on residents and visitors along the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic coast to watch for sea turtles showing signs of cold-stunning as water temperatures drop this winter. Cold-stunning renders these reptiles debilitated, causing hypothermia-like symptoms from prolonged exposure to chilly waters.
This condition strikes most often in late autumn and early winter, triggered by gradual cooling or sudden temperature plunges within a 24-hour span. Affected turtles become lethargic and unresponsive, floating listlessly and posing risks to themselves through vulnerability to predators or boat collisions, while also creating hazards for vessel operators navigating busy waterways.
Across the Atlantic Coast, stranding networks handle thousands of cold-stunned sea turtles each year. NOAA provides weekly updates to keep response teams informed during peak season. As of December 15, 696 sea turtles had been reported stranded in the Greater Atlantic Region, with over 90 percent occurring in Massachusetts waters. Maryland typically sees fewer cases compared to northern states, but local strandings do occur in coastal bays and tidal rivers.
While sea turtles bear the brunt, West Indian manatees can also succumb to cold-stunning. These occasional visitors to Maryland waters face similar hypothermia risks. In late November 2016, the department’s Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding Response Program recovered a deceased, cold-stunned manatee at the Dundalk Marine Terminal in Baltimore County.
The stranding program, based at the Cooperative Oxford Laboratory in Talbot County, coordinates with partners including the National Aquarium’s Animal Rescue team for live animal responses. Dead strandings fall under direct department oversight, allowing for data collection on causes ranging from natural factors like disease to human impacts.
Common species in Maryland waters include loggerhead, Kemp’s ridley, green, and occasionally leatherback sea turtles. These animals migrate northward in warmer months to forage in productive estuarine areas like the Chesapeake Bay, but failing to head south before cold snaps leaves them susceptible. Kemp’s ridley turtles, critically endangered, prove especially prone due to their preference for shallow coastal habitats.
In Southern Maryland, areas such as the Patuxent River, St. Mary’s River, and coastal bays near Assateague Island serve as potential foraging grounds during migration. Boaters and anglers in Calvert, St. Mary’s, and Charles counties often share these waters, heightening the need for awareness. A lethargic turtle floating near the surface might go unnoticed amid typical winter conditions, yet prompt reporting enables trained responders to assess and transport viable animals to rehabilitation facilities.
Rehabilitation involves gradual warming, fluid therapy, and treatment for secondary issues like pneumonia. Successful cases see turtles released back to warmer offshore waters, often with satellite tags for tracking recovery migrations.
Federal protections apply strictly: sea turtles under the Endangered Species Act and marine mammals under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Unauthorized handling, feeding, or collection carries penalties including fines, imprisonment, or property seizure.
Anyone spotting a floating, unresponsive, or beach-stranded sea turtle or marine mammal should keep distance to avoid further stress and contact the Maryland Natural Resources Police Hotline at 800-628-9944, available around the clock year-round. An online form exists for reporting deceased animals.
Cold-stunning highlights broader challenges for migratory species amid variable winter conditions. Public reports aid monitoring efforts and contribute to conservation data managed through NOAA’s Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network.