Cold-stunned turtle rescued from Treasure Island after seeking shelter in the sand

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Courtesy: Treasure Island Police Department

TREASURE ISLAND, Fla. - A cold-stunned turtle is warming up and recovering at Clearwater Marine Aquarium after being rescued on Treasure Island.

The backstory:

Treasure Island Police Department’s Community Service Crew said that while they were on routine patrol on Monday morning, they spotted a half-buried lump in the sand that surprised them when it blinked.

That lump in the sand turned out to be a cold-stunned sea turtle.

The crew said the turtle appeared to have washed up during high tide and became too weak to move after it was hit by a sudden chill.

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According to TIPD, the turtle tried to bury itself in the land to stay warm, but managed to poke its head out to let itself be known.

Courtesy: Treasure Island Police Department

Dig deeper:

The crew called experts at Clearwater Marine Aquarium, took photos, and kept watch over the turtle until the rescue team arrived with blankets and a large recovery tote.

The rescuers scooped up the turtle, wrapped it in a cozy blanket and took it away for warm-water rehab.

CMA thanked the TIPD crew and said their actions helped save the turtle’s life.

What they're saying:

In a social media post, TIPD wrote, "Another day, another way our team protects Treasure Island—whether it's people, property... or precious sea creatures!"