Coast Guard flies sea turtles to Florida

(FOX 5 NY) - The U.S. Coast Guard, with the help of the New England Aquarium and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, saved five endangered sea turtles that were stunned by the cold.

The Coast Guard flew the loggerhead turtles aboard an HC-144 Ocean Sentry plane on Wednesday, January 27, from the Cape Coad area to Miami. The turtles were sick and stressed.

Miami Seaquarium workers received the turtles, some weighing close to 100 pounds, to make sure they got into warmer waters.

In winter, sea turtles usually migrate south to warmer waters, but some gets trapped in the arm of Cape Cod and can die in the cold.

Sea turtles in the United States are protected under the Endangered Species Act. The Coast Guard has been known to save turtles that have gotten stuck in nets and fishing lines.