175 pound loggerhead called 'Cheese Curd', which are released in the Gulf Stream

The network for endangered sea turtles (nest), NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island, recently teamed up with the crew of the wanse based in Wanchese Phideaux To release a rehabilitated 175-pound logger head turtle called “cheese quark” into the warmer water of the golf current, about 13 miles off the coast.

The cheese quark was one of the many youngest patients with cold pots in the star center for Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation (Star) in the aquarium, which is one of the only two committed seafaring hospitals in the federal state.

Nest works routinely with sea vehicles and organizations to bring securities closer to their golf stream. Of the approximately 800 sea turtles that the Star Center received in December and early January alone, 552 from the US Coast Guard Hatteras Inlet, the US Coast Guard Station Fort Macon and the fishing vehicle were released off the coast Phideux.

Cold doctor occurs when the temperatures drop in the winter months and it can be a life -threatening scenario.

As cold -blooded reptiles, sea turtles come from their surroundings, and if they become too cold, their metabolism slows down and forbids them to move into warmer water. This can cause a wide range of medical problems and even lead to drowning without help, since the turtles have difficulty lifting their heads over water to breathe.

During these events, sea turtles are of course also blown into a local coast or a flat sound water. For this reason, local volunteers from Nest monitor the Hatteras and Ocracoke Island Soundside beaches for a cold spell that are looking for cold sea turtles that need help.

After the volunteers defy the cold conditions, the volunteers meet at a staging location, where turtles are measured and labeled before they bow to the Star Center, where medical support is provided.

The number of saved sea turtles can vary greatly from year to year, but the 2024/2025 season has already broken local records.

Although the cold weather ends for the 2024/2025 season, contact the Pamlico sound when you discover a cold sea turtle along or along the Pamlico sound. 24-hour Nest hotline at 252-441-8622. You can also call the National Park Service under 252-216-6892 if you discover a sea turtle along the National Sea;

For more information about the nest and for donations or for experiencing voluntary opportunities, see a visit

Sea turtles in North Carolina are protected by the law on endangered species and managed by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.