Dozens of green turtles discovered "cold stunned"

Ninety-three sea turtles found floating in the Mosquito Lagoon along Florida's Atlantic coast were rescued after the cold water shocked their tropically inclined systems.

Most of the "cold-stunned" turtles were endangered green sea turtles, with the exception of one loggerhead.

They will be sent to research facilities Thursday, where they can be cared for.

Nanette Lawrenson, Executive Director of the Loggerhead Marine Life Center, said the organization is expecting 20 turtles today.

Nancy Yates, a stranding coordinator for the Sea Turtle Preservation Society, says that when the water cools rapidly they cannot handle the cold temperature and they float to the surface.

The Mosquito Lagoon serves as a nursery for juvenile turtles, while their older counterparts tend to swim out into the ocean, where temperatures are warm enough.