HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. () — As the temperatures lowers, the risk of sea turtles being cold stunned rises.

Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island said that they located the first of their cold stunned sea turtles of 2025 on Jan. 7. The juvenile green sea turtle was located near the Cross Island Boat Ramp at Broad Creek.

Cold stunning is what can happen when sea turtles are exposed to cold temperatures, which results in them becoming weak and inactive, the Fishery Division of the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration said. Eventually, they are unable to swim and will float to the surface.

If cold stunned sea turtles don’t receive care and temperatures remain low, they can develop health problems or die, the NOAA said.

“It is very possible that more cold stunned sea turtles will be spotted as our temperatures drop in the days ahead,” Sea Turtle Patrol said.

Please call South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR) at 800-922-5431 if you encounter a lethargic sea turtle.

For those in Georgia, contact Georgia DNR at (912) 280-6892.