The Mid-Coast Sea Turtle Rescue was initiated in response to the winter storm in February 2021 when hundreds of sea turtles where found dead due to cold stunning and lack of a search and rescue effort in the San Antonio Bay region. Developed through a collaboration between Texas Master Naturalists and Texas Parks and Wildlife in Port O'Connor, the program was adopted by San Antonio Bay Partnership in December, 2022. The program has over 50 local volunteers providing search and rescue efforts via private boats, and ground transportation of the turtles to the Amos Rehabilitation Keep (ARK). The Mid-Coast Sea Turtle Rescue responds to cold stunning events and reports of turtle strandings through the 866-Turtle5 hotline.
December 2022 Cold Stunning Event
Victoria Advocate, January 14, 2023
Dolphin Talk, Port O'Connor/Seadrift News, January 22, 2023
Dolphin Talk, September 16, 2022 Turtle Strandings
Dolphin Talk, February 17, 2022 Cold Stunned Turtles Rescued