161 Sea Turtles Receiving Rehabilitation at the N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke Island

The N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke Island is rehabilitating over 160 cold-stunned sea turtles at the Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation (S.T.A.R.) Center. Over the past week, over 120 cold-stunned sea turtles have been rescued and brought to the Aquarium for rehabilitation. The Aquarium is part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Cold stunning is a natural, seasonal event that occurs when sound water temperatures drop quickly before sea turtles can migrate to warmer waterways, such as the Gulf Stream. Affected sea turtles are "cold-stunned" and experience hypothermia-like symptoms, becoming stranded at shorelines and appearing lifeless. As temperatures have dipped below freezing over the past week, cold-stunned sea turtles have been rescued and brought to the Aquarium.

The response, rescue, and transport of sea turtles during a cold-stun stranding event is supported by the Aquarium's 25-year partnership with the volunteer-led Network for Endangered Sea Turtles (N.E.S.T.) Together with N.E.S.T., the Aquarium and the S.T.A.R. Center collaborate with multiple local organizations, including Cape Hatteras National Seashore and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

Participants involved provide multi-tiered support for sea turtles, including leading logistics, holding sea turtles in the clinic, providing care, and transporting turtles throughout the facility. They provide land and sea transportation for turtle rescues and releases, run laundry, prepare veterinary supplies and salt water, assist with intakes and swim tests, and share updates with stakeholders.

In comparison to last year, in December 2024 the Aquarium received a record number of sea turtles. By mid-December 2024, 576 cold-stunned sea turtles had been received at the Aquarium as temperatures on the Outer Banks fell dramatically last winter. From December 2024 through March 2025 the Aquarium received nearly 800 cold-stunned sea turtles. Environmental and weather conditions, including changing ocean currents and fluctuating air temperatures, can cause the season of cold stunning to be unpredictable for both sea turtles and those involved with response efforts.

Every winter the Aquarium prepares to receive and rehabilitate cold-stunned sea turtles. A sophisticated incident command structure, similar to those used in natural disasters, is implemented to meet the Aquarium's unique needs. Staff and volunteers are meticulously activated throughout the Aquarium to provide exceptional emergency triage, assistance and support for sea turtles.

The S.T.A.R. Center, founded at the Aquarium in 2014, rehabilitates rescued sea turtles year-round. In recent years, sea turtle patients have been treated at the Aquarium for assorted problems, not only cold-stunning, but also eye injuries, kidney failure, pneumonia, frostbite, infections, and injuries from boat strikes and ingested fishing hooks. When sea turtle patients are cleared by Aquarium veterinarians, the Aquarium releases recovered sea turtles back into their natural environment. Sea turtles have been released by the Aquarium oceanside, offshore into the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, and into the Croatan Sound-the Aquarium's aquatic backyard. Dedicated in 1976, the Aquarium is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026.

Sea turtles that appear still or sluggish in the sound water or on a beach during winter months should not be pushed back into the water or moved. Instead, a sea turtle that appears to be in distress should be reported to the Sea Turtle Stranding Hotline via N.E.S.T. (Network for Endangered Sea Turtles) at 252-441-8622.

Sea turtles in North Carolina are protected by the Endangered Species Act and managed by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke Island operates under NCWRC Sea Turtle Permit #25ST46.

About the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island
Located on the Outer Banks in Manteo, N.C., the N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke Island is part of N.C. Aquariums, which includes four attractions along North Carolina's coast and is a division of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The 63,000 square-foot facility on 16 acres overlooks the Croatan Sound and houses over 2,200 animals. Over 315,000 guests visit the Aquarium each year to see the 285,000-gallon "Graveyard of the Atlantic" shark and ocean habitat, visit the Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation (S.T.A.R.) Center, and learn why North Carolina's waterways are so special. As an educational attraction, the mission of N.C. Aquariums is to inspire appreciation and conservation of our aquatic environments. The Aquarium is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas. For more information, visit www.ncaquariums.com/roanoke-island.

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina - its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.

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