Cold-stunning, also known as hypothermic stunning, is a

hypothermic Hypothermia is defined as a body core temperature below in humans. Symptoms depend on the temperature. In mild hypothermia, there is shivering and mental confusion. In moderate hypothermia, shivering stops and confusion increases. In severe h ...

reaction experienced by marine reptiles, notably

sea turtle Sea turtles (superfamily Chelonioidea), sometimes called marine turtles, are reptiles of the order Testudines and of the suborder Cryptodira. The seven existing species of sea turtles are the flatback, green, hawksbill, leatherback, loggerhe ...

s, when exposed to cold water for prolonged periods, which causes them to become weak and inactive. Cold-stunned sea turtles may float to the surface and be further exposed to cold temperatures, which can cause them to drown. A water temperature threshold of 8–10 °C has been associated with mass turtle stunning events. After cold-stunning has taken place, there is only a very short period of time when sea turtles can be safely rescued. One study indicates that ocean warming has led to an increase in cold-stunning events in the northwest Atlantic.

Notable instances

In 2016, 1,700 turtles were cold-stunned in North Carolina, following "an unusually temperate fall and early winter". In 2021, nearly 5,000 cold-stunned turtles were rescued in Texas during a winter storm; it has been called the largest cold-stunning event to be documented in the state.

References

Animal physiology Animal welfare Thermoregulation {{Animal-physiology-stub

Notable instances

See also

References