# Cold-stunning

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{{Short description|Hypothermic reaction in marine reptiles}}
thumb|Two rescued cold-stunned turtles

'''Cold-stunning''', also known as '''hypothermic stunning''', is a [hypothermic](/source/hypothermic) reaction experienced by [marine reptile](/source/marine_reptile)s, especially [sea turtle](/source/sea_turtle)s, after prolonged exposure to cold water. Affected animals become weak and inactive. Cold-stunned sea turtles may float to the surface, where further exposure to cold temperatures can cause them to drown.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2021-02-11 |title=Cold-Stunning and Sea Turtles - Frequently Asked Questions |url=https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-life-distress/cold-stunning-and-sea-turtles-frequently-asked-questions |access-date=2021-02-19 |website=NOAA Fisheries |language=en}}</ref> Water temperatures of 8–10&nbsp;°C have been associated with mass turtle-stunning events.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Shaver |first1=Donna J. |last2=Tissot |first2=Philippe E. |last3=Streich |first3=Mary M. |last4=Walker |first4=Jennifer Shelby |last5=Rubio |first5=Cynthia |last6=Amos |first6=Anthony F. |last7=George |first7=Jeffrey A. |last8=Pasawicz |first8=Michelle R. |name-list-style=amp |date=2017-03-17 |title=Hypothermic stunning of green sea turtles in a western Gulf of Mexico foraging habitat |journal=PLOS ONE |language=en |volume=12 |issue=3 |article-number=e0173920 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0173920 |pmc=5357020 |pmid=28306747 |bibcode=2017PLoSO..1273920S |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Cold Stunned Sea Turtles |url=https://www.nps.gov/pais/learn/nature/cold-stunned-sea-turtles.htm |access-date=2021-02-19 |website=U.S. National Park Service |language=en}}</ref> Rescue is time-sensitive after cold-stunning occurs.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Roberts |first1=Kelsey |last2=Collins |first2=Jennifer |last3=Paxton |first3=Charles H. |last4=Hardy |first4=Robert |last5=Downs |first5=Joni |name-list-style=amp |date=2014-04-07 |title=Weather patterns associated with green turtle hypothermic stunning events in St. Joseph Bay and Mosquito Lagoon, Florida |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02723646.2014.898573 |journal=Physical Geography |language=en |doi=10.1080/02723646.2014.898573 |volume=35 |issue=2 |pages=134–150 |s2cid=140671808 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

One study indicates that [ocean warming](/source/ocean_warming) has increased cold-stunning events affecting [Kemp's ridley sea turtle](/source/Kemp's_ridley_sea_turtle)s in the northwest Atlantic.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Griffin |first1=Lucas P. |last2=Griffin |first2=Curtice R. |last3=Finn |first3=John T. |last4=Prescott |first4=Robert L. |last5=Faherty |first5=Mark |last6=Still |first6=Brett M. |last7=Danylchuk |first7=Andy J. |name-list-style=amp |date=2019-01-29 |title=Warming seas increase cold-stunning events for Kemp's ridley sea turtles in the northwest Atlantic |journal=PLOS ONE |language=en |volume=14 |issue=1 |article-number=e0211503 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0211503 |pmc=6350998 |pmid=30695074 |bibcode=2019PLoSO..1411503G |doi-access=free}}</ref>

== Notable instances ==
[[File:Record Breaking Number of Cold Stunned Sea Turtles at Texas State Aquarium.webm|thumb|Video of the rescue efforts in 2021 by the [Texas State Aquarium](/source/Texas_State_Aquarium)]]

In 2016, 1,700 turtles were cold-stunned in North Carolina after "an unusually temperate fall and early winter".<ref>{{Cite conference |last1=Christiansen |first1=Emily F. Finn |last2=Harms |first2=Craig A. |last3=Godfrey |first3=Matthew H. |last4=Finn |first4=Sarah A. |name-list-style=amp |date=2016 |title=2016 North Carolina Sea Turtle Cold Stunning Event |url=https://www.vin.com/apputil/content/defaultadv1.aspx?pId=14818&catId=75132&id=7312282 |conference=47th Annual International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine (IAAAM) Meeting & Conference |location=Virginia Beach, VA}}</ref>

In 2021, nearly 5,000 cold-stunned turtles were rescued in Texas during a winter storm.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Daly |first=Natasha |date=2021-02-19 |title=Nearly 5,000 sea turtles rescued from freezing waters on Texas island |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/nearly-5000-sea-turtles-rescued-from-freezing-waters-on-texas-island |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219182124/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/nearly-5000-sea-turtles-rescued-from-freezing-waters-on-texas-island |archive-date=February 19, 2021 |access-date=2021-02-19 |website=National Geographic |language=en}}</ref> It was described as the largest cold-stunning event documented in the state.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=DeSantis |first1=Rachel |last2=Aradillas |first2=Elaine |date=2021-02-18 |title=Local Sea Turtle Expert Calls 'Cold-Stunning' Event the 'Largest' That's Been Documented in Texas |url=https://people.com/human-interest/thousands-of-sea-turtles-in-texas-have-been-cold-stunned-by-winter-storm/ |access-date=2021-02-19 |website=[People](/source/People_(magazine)) |language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [Physiology of aquatic reptiles](/source/Physiology_of_underwater_diving)

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

Category:Animal physiology
Category:Animal welfare
Category:Thermoregulation

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Cold-stunning](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold-stunning) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold-stunning?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.