JUNO BEACH, Fla. - They came in crowded trucks and left by flipper: Hundreds of endangered sea turtles are being released back into the Atlantic Ocean now that Florida’s weather has warmed enough.
Officials in the Sunshine State helped rescue nearly 3,000 turtles from frigid waters in the past week, as air temperatures dipped into the 30s.
The turtles - which weigh as much as 400 pounds - were found across Florida as the chilly temperatures sent them into a cold stress, leaving them stunned and largely motionless, the perfect prey for predators. After about a week of treatment, including soakings in heated pools and oxygen therapy, the turtles are headed back into the wild.
