MANTEO — Cold weather is causing a problem for some sea turtles off the North Carolina coast, and an aquarium has taken in dozens of them for treatment.
Credit N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke Island / @NCAquariumRI/Facebook
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@NCAquariumRI/Facebook
TV station WVEC-TV reports 96 turtles were taken to the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island after a drop in temperatures on Thursday and Friday. More are expected to be treated there in the coming days.
Dropping water temperatures can cause cold-stunning, a condition similar to hypothermia that makes turtles unable to swim properly.
The recovery process involves gradually warming the turtles up over a few days.
The Aquarium posted to Facebook that its STAR Center will be closed to the public starting Sunday to make more space for the chilly turtles. The rest of the aquarium is open.