Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 03/10/2026The GCSTR Outreach and Recruitment Team is at the annual Da Vinci Day hosted by the Galveston Children’s Museum!🐢 When: Saturday, October 3rd 10 AM - 3 PM Where: Marmo Plaza (2121 Market Street Galveston, TX) 101
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 01/10/2026A goal of our Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital is to serve as an educational facility that fulfills the teaching mission of Texas A&M University and the vision for the Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research. As our program has grown, we are now able to put that mission into action! 110
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 26/09/2026Today, the GCSTR Outreach Team is at the Texana Nature Center’s second annual Texana Nature Days: Turtle Edition! 🐢 When: Saturday, September 26, 2026 10 AM - 2 PM Where: Texana Nature Center 344 Park Road 2 Edna, Texas 77957 100
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 25/09/2026🚨 New Patient Alert 🚨 This green sea turtle was captured foul-hooked at the Surfside Jetty this week, with hooks embedded in its shoulder and flipper. Fortunately, the fisherman immediately reported the incident through the 1-866-TURTLE-5 hotline, which is answered by the GCSTR 24/7/365 100
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 22/09/2026The Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research celebrated World Cleanup Day with a beach cleanup on Follet’s Island! 🚮🐢 Volunteers removed over 850 pieces of plastic from this important sea turtle nesting habitat! 110
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 21/09/2026We’re excited to share the first fall harvest from our Young Gardeners! 🌱🐢 Through our partnership with Groundswell's Young Gardeners Program and GISD, students from Oppe Elementary, Rosenberg Elementary, and Weis Middle School grow fresh vegetables to help feed our sea turtle patients. 100
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 19/09/2026Join our Marine Debris Team for a beach clean up to help protect a vital sea turtle and shorebird habitat! When: Monday, September 21st 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM Where: Brazoria County Beach Access # 5 101
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 15/09/2026NEW RECRUITS NEEDED🐢 The GCTSR is the permitted lead on the upper Texas coast for all sea turtle activities, and we are actively recruiting Rescue & Recovery Team members for Bolivar, Surfside, Quintana, Sargent, and East Matagorda! 100
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 13/09/2026🚨 New Patient Alert 🚨 The past two days have brought an alarming influx of stranded sea turtles along the upper Texas coast. Yesterday was a record-breaking day for GCTSR’s Rescue & Recovery Program, with four species: Kemp’s ridley, loggerhead, green, and hawksbill coming into our care in a 100
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 12/09/2026🚨New Patient Alert 🚨 This green sea turtle was foul-hooked off the Texas City Dike this past weekend. Thankfully, the anglers immediately called the 1-866-TURTLE-5 hotline before attempting to intervene. 100
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 12/09/2026It’s time to announce our annual GCSTR Party! 🎉 🐢 Join us Saturday, October 10th, from 2 to 5 PM at Galveston Island Brewing for an afternoon celebrating sea turtles, conservation, community, and connection. 100
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 12/09/2026Sea Turtle Nesting Update!🐢🥚 Yesterday, on Follet's Island, a member of the public spotted two sea turtle hatchlings crawling toward the water and immediately called the 1-866-TURTLE-5 hotline! Thanks to her prompt action, our permitted team was able to respond and find the undetected sea turtle 100
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 04/09/2026Show your love for Texas sea turtles!🐢 Support the Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research with a specialty sea turtle license plate. Every purchase helps bring proceeds directly back to us to fund our rescue, rehabilitation, research, nesting and conservation of Texas sea turtles! 110
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 04/09/2026Show your love for Texas sea turtles!🐢 Support the Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research with a specialty sea turtle license plate. Every purchase helps bring proceeds directly back to us to fund our rescue, rehabilitation, research, nesting and conservation of Texas sea turtles! 100
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 27/08/2026Thank you to everyone who stopped by the TAMUG Volunteer Fair today! We loved getting to share how students could gain hands-on experience in sea turtle conservation. 🐢 From rescue and recovery to rehabilitation, nesting, research, marine debris, education, and outreach, 100
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 24/08/2026Welcome back, TAMUG Aggies! 👍🐢 We’re proud to be one of the few sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation centers with such strong student involvement. Our students play an important role in helping us care for and conserve sea turtles! 100
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 14/08/2026We’ve received almost two dozen injured Kemp’s ridley washbacks this month and our Rehabilitation Program needs your help! You can support their care, recovery, and return to the wild by shopping our Amazon Wishlist: www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/... 100
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 13/08/2026A Visual Impact of Marine Debris🐢 This sea turtle sustained a severe entanglement injury from discarded monofilament fishing line around its front flipper. The line tightened over time and cut through the tissue and into the underlying bone. 100
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 29/07/2026Another GCSTR patient has returned to the Gulf! 🌊🐢 This juvenile green sea turtle was admitted with a fractured carapace and superficial injuries after a concerned member of the public called the 1-866-TURTLE-5 hotline. 100
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 28/07/2026Last week, our Marine Debris Team removed over 165 pounds of litter from Rettilon Road Beach on Bolivar Peninsula, including over 5,000 pieces of plastic!🐢🚮 Texas receives ten times more debris than other Gulf states and every pound removed from this coastal habitat makes a difference! 100
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 23/07/2026We are often asked if we offer tours of our facilities. At this time, we’re unable to provide public tours due to our state and federal permits.🐢 We’re excited to share that the Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research is building the Cheryl Mellenthin Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital 100
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 22/07/2026This could be you tomorrow morning! 🚮🐢 Join our Marine Debris Team as we clean up the coast at Rettilon Road tomorrow, July 23rd, from 8–10AM. Whether you’re a new or returning volunteer, we would love to have you join and help make a difference. Let’s see who can collect the most trash! 000
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 17/07/2026The nesting patrol season may be over, but our work to protect sea turtles continues! Join our Marine Debris Team for a beach cleanup and help keep the Texas coast safe for sea turtles and other coastal wildlife.🐢🌊 100
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 15/07/2026Another season is in the books! Sea Aggie Sea Turtle Patrol has completed its 11th nesting season! 🎉🐢 Our largest community based volunteer core yet! 450+ signed up to patrol the beaches from Bolivar Peninsula to East Matagorda April-July, to search for nesting sea turtles or tracks. 110
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 09/07/2026Yesterday, we released one of our longtime patients back into the Gulf! 🐢🌊 This Kemp’s ridley arrived at our facility as a tiny post-hatchling washback in July 2025. After a year of rehabilitation, this turtle was ready to return home. 300
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 08/07/2026Today, the GCSTR joined the Gulf Coast Explorers Camp at the Galveston Children's Museum to teach campers about sea turtle conservation!🐢⛺️ Campers rotated through three hands-on stations. They learned about the threats sea turtles face 100
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 07/07/2026🌟 Sponsor Spotlight: Pam House and Steve Bowden 🌟 A big thank you to another one of our UTV sponsors, Pam House and Steve Bowden! As longtime volunteers with the Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research 100
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 06/07/2026Today we held our post–Fourth of July beach cleanup in Brazoria County! 🌊🚮 After one of the busiest beach weekends of the year, our volunteers removed over 160 pounds of trash from the beach! We found everything from tiny microplastics to piles of fireworks. 101
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 02/07/2026Three more green sea turtle patients returned home to the Gulf yesterday! 🐢🌊 We were honored to welcome Galveston Mayor John Paul Listowski, Captain Adam Shannahan of Galveston-Texas City Pilots, Krista Hall of Texas International Terminals, and their families to celebrate the release. 120
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 27/06/2026We received our first washback of the season last night🐢🌊 Thank you to the members of the public that reported this Kemp's ridley sea turtle found on Galveston Island. Hatchlings are now emerging along the Texas coast, and washbacks may be seen along the shoreline. 110
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 25/06/2026Join us for a Post Fourth of July Beach Clean Up!🚮🎇 Holiday weekends are fun, but are a magnet for marine debris on our coastlines! Each year we find piles of drink cans, boxes, chip bags, fireworks, and fishing gear. Come help make the beach cleaner than you found it! 100
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 22/06/2026As sea turtle nesting season for the GCSTR (April–July) winds down, watch for washbacks and hatchlings on the beach. They can show up on the coast after storms or high tides. 🐢 If you find one, call the Texas statewide sea turtle hotline immediately 1-866-TURTLE-5. 110
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 19/06/2026We are so excited to introduce our 2026 GCSTR Summer Interns! 🐢☀️ These four undergraduates are all marine biology students at Texas A&M University Galveston Campus! This summer, they'll be fully immersed in every aspect of our sea turtle conservation programs including early morning nest patrols 110
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 16/06/2026Happy World Sea Turtle Day! Sea turtles are keystone species. They are indicators of ocean and ecosystem health. They help maintain a balance among predators and prey, which benefits fisheries and economies worldwide. 1124
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 15/06/2026Are you looking for a rainy day activity in Galveston this week and want to learn more about Texas sea turtles? Head to the Galveston Children’s Museum (@galvestonchildrensmuseum) to check out our GCSTR interactive sea turtle station! 121
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 15/06/2026Today's Threat of the day: Plastic Pollution One of the most common threats we find in very small, juvenile patients that come into our rehab hospital are the consumption of plastics. 100
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 15/06/2026Today we are celebrating Leatherback Day! Leatherbacks are the largest of the sea turtles and are the only species with a soft shell. They have 7 ridges that run from their head to their tail. These gentle giants have a diet almost entirely of jellyfish and can dive down to 1200 meters! 100
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 14/06/2026Sea turtles face extreme impacts due to climate change: today’s Threat of the Day! As global temperatures rise, warmer waters damage coral reefs and other important habitats that reduce the availability of important food sources. 111
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 14/06/2026June 14th is Green Sea Turtle Day for #SeaTurtleWeek! Green sea turtles typically inhabit our back bays and estuaries, where they feed on and help maintain seagrass beds. These habitats serve as important nurseries for juvenile crabs, shrimp, game fish, and oysters. 100
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 14/06/2026June 13th is Hawksbill day for #SeaTurtleWeek! Hawksbill sea turtles are named for their narrow, bird-like beak that helps them forage for sponges and other invertebrates found in the cracks and crevices of coral reefs. They are one of the smaller sea turtles, weighing around 150 lbs as adults. 200
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 12/06/2026#SeaTurtleWeek Threat of the Day: Entanglement. One of the biggest threats to sea turtles is accidental capture in fishing gear. According to the World Wildlife Fund, over 250,000 sea turtles are caught and drowned in fisheries each year. In 1989, federal regulations required the use of 283
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 12/06/2026June 12th is Loggerhead day! Adult loggerhead sea turtles can reach 4 feet (1.2 meters) in length and weigh between 200-400 pounds (90-180 kilograms). Dr. Marshall’s research found that this species can exert over 500 pounds of bite force with their jaws to crush mollusks and crabs. 120
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 10/06/2026Today's Threat of the Day: Ocean Pollution Sea turtles are vulnerable to ocean pollution at every life stage. This includes heavy metals, PCBs, petroleum products, microplastics, PFAS ("forever chemicals"), agricultural or industrial runoff, chemicals, excess nutrients, and untreated waste. 110
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 10/06/2026#SeaTurtleWeek continues today with our Texas State sea turtle: Kemp’s ridleys. This species is the smallest and most critically endangered. 101
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 09/06/2026Today’s Threat of the Day: Coastal Development: Development on the coast can affect sea turtles in many ways. Lights can deter nesting turtles and attract hatchlings, beach armoring and construction prevents nesting, and with development comes pollution. 110
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 09/06/2026Today’s #SeaTurtleWeek species of the day is the Australian Flatback! Can you guess where they are found? These unique sea turtles enjoy feasting on jellyfish, sea cucumbers, and soft corals. Discover more about flatbacks at (seaturtleweek.com/flatback-day). 192
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 08/06/2026#SeaTurtleWeek kicks off on June 8th with @WorldOceanDay! 🌊 The Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research is the permitted lead organization and first responder for all sea turtle-related activities from the Louisiana border to East Matagorda Bay. 132
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 07/06/2026Sea Turtle Week begins tomorrow! Why should sharks have all the fun? 🐢🦈 Sea turtles have coexisted with sharks for millions of years. Their shells provide protection during predator encounters, helping them survive injuries that might otherwise be fatal. Our patient Drumstick is living proof. 131
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 01/06/2026Digging holes and creating pools at the beach can be fun, but please remember to fill them in before you leave. Unfilled holes can be hazardous to both wildlife and people. Nesting sea turtles may become trapped or expend valuable energy navigating around depressions in the sand. 121
Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research @seaturtlecenter.bsky.social · 29/05/2026🚨 New Patient Alert 🚨 A second juvenile hawksbill sea turtle stranded along the Texas coast this week and was transported to our rehabilitation hospital for treatment. 110