Clearwater Beach is a great place to enjoy the spectacular spring weather. Just a trip over the Memorial Causeway and your on the island. Drive down Coronado, stroll Beach Walk, and enjoy the white sand. There’s lots to do on Clearwater Beach.
Tag Archives: Clearwater Marine Aquarium
Cold Stunns
Cold stunned sea turtles are a common occurrence along the gulf coast. It only takes water temperatures as low as 65 degrees for these cold-blooded creatures to become lethargic, according to Lauren Bell, a marine biologist in sea turtles and aquatic biology at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. “As of now there haven’t been any cold stunned turtles,” she said yesterday evening around sunset. At the time, the water was hovering just above that critical 65 degree mark. Because of air temperature in the mid 30s overnight, the water temperature at Pier 60 has fallen to 60°f as of 6:30am, 10 degrees almost overnight. There is a strong possibility that at least a few lethargic, cold stunned turtles will need rehabilitation this morning.
Sea Turtle Release
Loggerhead turtles make up the majority of the nesting turtles along the northern Pinellas county beaches. Hatchlings incubate for about two months in the nest. Since the main nesting months are from May to October, the hatchling emergence often occurs during the peak of the hurricane season, between August and October. This puts the hatchlings at risk of being washed back onto the beaches of the coast, exhausted from battling ocean waves in their attempt to get out to the weed-line many miles offshore. Once the turtles get washed onto shore they become especially at risk of mortality. Fortunately, there are many caring people who watch over the turtles, doing what they can to preserve the reptile.