Grant: 26-013C
Project Title: Ride to Rescue: ATV Support for Cold-Stunned Sea Turtle Recovery
Project Manager: Julia Woodward
Organization: Florida State Parks Foundation (Non-Profit Organization)
Grant Amount: $7,966.81
Completion Date:
Summary: The Florida State Parks Foundation will purchase a new Kingquad all-terrain vehicle (ATV) with a cargo rack and a pull-behind cargo trailer to be used for sea turtle cold-stunning event responses. T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park (SJPSP) has been part of the Index Nesting Beach Survey (INBS) program since 1997, when the program expanded to include the Florida Panhandle. SJPSP is a nine-mile peninsula in Gulf County. Five miles of the park is a wilderness preserve with no paved roads or visitor accommodations beyond primitive camping and a trail system. During periods of extreme cold, the shallow waters of St. Joseph Bay are vulnerable to rapid temperature drops, making it a common site for sea turtle strandings. The sea turtles, unable to regulate their body temperature in the cold waters, become lethargic, float to the surface, and are then stranded. Park staff have responded to several significant stranding events, including, in January of 2025, when 123 turtles were rescued. Park staff worked as part of the large-scale rescue effort, recovering over 1,200 turtles from the St. Joseph Bay. This ATV will enhance rescue efforts, allowing staff and volunteers to navigate the narrow trails and nine miles of shoreline on the St. Joseph Bay. Enabling SJPSP staff to access the entire shoreline will increase the number of turtles that can be recovered. Some of these turtles are very large, making it difficult for staff to transport them. The ATV will improve response time, allowing recovered turtles to be transported quickly out of the cold weather and minimize mortality. 
Results: