CONSERVATION
Nest conservation program
Every year, multiple species of sea turtles come ashore to lay eggs on the beaches of South Padre Island and Boca Chica Beach. The most common nesting female we encounter is the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii). The Kemp’s ridley is critically endangered due to decades of egg harvesting in their primary nesting grounds of Rancho Nuevo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, and mortality related to shrimp fisheries before the implementation of Turtle Excluder Devices (TED) . Today, there are multiple government agencies and non-profit organizations in both Mexico and the United States working towards saving this critically endangered species of sea turtle.
Since 1999, Sea Turtle, Inc. has participated in the bi-national efforts to protect the Kemp’s ridley and other species of sea turtles that come ashore to lay eggs. Between April 1 and August 15, our interns and volunteers conduct daily patrols in the 50 southernmost miles of Texas’ beaches looking for sea turtle nesting activity. If we encounter a nesting female, we carefully tag the turtle, take a biopsy sample, and collect morphometric data as a part of collaborative studies. Once the nesting female is safely back in the water, we excavate her eggs and relocate them to a hatchery for safe incubation. After a period of 45 to 55 days, hatchlings emerge from the nest cavities and we safely release them to the Gulf of Mexico under moonlight and away from city lights. When conditions allow, we hold public hatchling releases.
Conservation around the World
Sea Turtle, Inc. is a proud advocate of other sea turtle conservation programs around the world. This year, we have provided financial support to a sea turtle hospital in Glyfada, Greece and a sea turtle nesting project in the southern beaches of Sri Lanka.
We also created a partnership with the Universidad Michoacána de San Nicolas and the communities of Colola and Mexiquillo in Michoacán, Mexico. Every year, we take a small group of tourists to participate in conservation efforts for the pacific black sea turtle in Colola, Michoacan. The funds generated from these eco-tours are given back to those communities to continue conservation efforts to protect pacific black and leatherback sea turtles.
Sea Turtle Hatchling releases
Our number one priority is to make sure sea turtle hatchlings make it to the Gulf of Mexico as soon as they hatch. Generally, it happens right in the middle of the night. However, sometimes hatchlings emerge as the sun is rising, and we are able to hold a public release. Your chance of seeing a public hatchling release increases when a lot of nests are expected to hatch at the same time. Look at the calendar below to see how many nests we have protected and the expected dates of hatching.
* Public Hatchling Releases will be announced the morning of at 6 a.m. No post will be made if no hatchling release is occurring that morning. Please engage on our Facebook page for the latest information .
2022 Nesting Season Breakdown
Date Found
4/28/22
Number of Eggs
94
Estimated Hatching Dates
June 12 – June 22
Date Hatched
June 18
Number of Hatchlings released
92
Date Found
4/29/22
Number of Eggs
91
Estimated Hatching Dates
June 13 – June 23
Date Hatched
June 18
Number of Hatchlings released
71
Date Found
5/2/22
Number of Eggs
102
Estimated Hatching Dates
June 16 – June 26
Date Hatched
June 21
Number of Hatchlings released
81
Date Found
5/2/22
Number of Eggs
102
Estimated Hatching Dates
June 16 – June 26
Date Hatched
June 21
Number of Hatchlings released
99
Date Found
5/2/22
Number of Eggs
123
Estimated Hatching Dates
June 16 – June 26
Date Hatched
June 19
Number of Hatchlings released
122
Date Found
5/2/22
Number of Eggs
94
Estimated Hatching Dates
June 16 – June 26
Date Hatched
June 21
Number of Hatchlings released
88
Date Found
5/2/22
Number of Eggs
87
Estimated Hatching Dates
June 16 – June 26
Date Hatched
June 20
Number of Hatchlings released
68
Date Found
5/2/22
Number of Eggs
111
Estimated Hatching Dates
June 16 – June 26
Date Hatched
June 21
Number of Hatchlings released
107
Date Found
5/4/22
Number of Eggs
123
Estimated Hatching Dates
June 18 – June 28
Date Hatched
June 21
Number of Hatchlings released
116
Date Found
5/4/22
Number of Eggs
93
Estimated Hatching Dates
June 18 – June 28
Date Hatched
June 21
Number of Hatchlings released
58
Date Found
5/12/22
Number of Eggs
91
Estimated Hatching Dates
June 26 – July 6
Date Hatched
June 29
Number of Hatchlings released
87
Date Found
5/12/22
Number of Eggs
94
Estimated Hatching Dates
June 26 – July 6
Date Hatched
June 28
Number of Hatchlings released
89
Date Found
5/12/22
Number of Eggs
95
Estimated Hatching Dates
June 26 – July 6
Date Hatched
June 28
Number of Hatchlings released
88
Date Found
5/13/22
Number of Eggs
105
Estimated Hatching Dates
June 27 – July 7
Date Hatched
June 29
Number of Hatchlings released
71
Date Found
5/13/22
Number of Eggs
87
Estimated Hatching Dates
June 27 – July 7
Date Hatched
June 30
Number of Hatchlings released
78
Date Found
5/13/22
Number of Eggs
93
Estimated Hatching Dates
June 27 – July 7
Date Hatched
Number of Hatchlings released
Date Found
5/13/22
Number of Eggs
94
Estimated Hatching Dates
June 27 – July 7
Date Hatched
July 1
Number of Hatchlings released
26
Date Found
5/13/22
Number of Eggs
95
Estimated Hatching Dates
June 27 – July 7
Date Hatched
June 28
Number of Hatchlings released
73
Date Found
5/13/22
Number of Eggs
102
Estimated Hatching Dates
June 27 – July 7
Date Hatched
July 1
Number of Hatchlings released
81
Date Found
5/13/22
Number of Eggs
119
Estimated Hatching Dates
June 27 – July 7
Date Hatched
July 1
Number of Hatchlings released
112
Date Found
5/14/22
Number of Eggs
99
Estimated Hatching Dates
June 28 – July 8
Date Hatched
July 1
Number of Hatchlings released
89
Date Found
5/17/22
Number of Eggs
93
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 1 – July 11
Date Hatched
July 5
Number of Hatchlings released
86
Date Found
5/20/22
Number of Eggs
98
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 4 – July 14
Date Hatched
July 6
Number of Hatchlings released
95
Date Found
5/20/22
Number of Eggs
83
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 4 – July 14
Date Hatched
July 7
Number of Hatchlings released
63
Date Found
5/20/22
Number of Eggs
18
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 4 – July 14
Date Hatched
July 10
Number of Hatchlings released
17
Date Found
5/20/22
Number of Eggs
111
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 4 – July 14
Date Hatched
July 7
Number of Hatchlings released
103
Date Found
5/20/22
Number of Eggs
109
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 4 – July 14
Date Hatched
July 6
Number of Hatchlings released
95
Date Found
5/20/22
Number of Eggs
58
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 4 – July 14
Date Hatched
July 8
Number of Hatchlings released
59
Date Found
5/20/22
Number of Eggs
95
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 4 – July 14
Date Hatched
July 6
Number of Hatchlings released
89
Date Found
5/21/22
Number of Eggs
82
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 5 – July 15
Date Hatched
July 10
Number of Hatchlings released
73
Date Found
5/22/22
Number of Eggs
86
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 6 – July 16
Date Hatched
July 8
Number of Hatchlings released
83
Date Found
5/22/22
Number of Eggs
108
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 6 – July 16
Date Hatched
July 9
Number of Hatchlings released
105
Date Found
5/22/22
Number of Eggs
81
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 6 – July 16
Date Hatched
July 9
Number of Hatchlings released
69
Date Found
5/22/22
Number of Eggs
91
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 6 – July 16
Date Hatched
July 9
Number of Hatchlings released
79
Date Found
5/22/22
Number of Eggs
122
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 6 – July 16
Date Hatched
July 9
Number of Hatchlings released
119
Date Found
5/23/22
Number of Eggs
70
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 7 – July 17
Date Hatched
July 9
Number of Hatchlings released
66
Date Found
5/24/22
Number of Eggs
118
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 8 – July 18
Date Hatched
July 9
Number of Hatchlings released
101
Date Found
5/24/22
Number of Eggs
110
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 8 – July 18
Date Hatched
July 10
Number of Hatchlings released
106
Date Found
5/24/22
Number of Eggs
102
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 8 – July 18
Date Hatched
July 9
Number of Hatchlings released
90
Date Found
5/24/22
Number of Eggs
81
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 8 – July 18
Date Hatched
July 8
Number of Hatchlings released
67
Date Found
5/24/22
Number of Eggs
82
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 8 – July 18
Date Hatched
July 10
Number of Hatchlings released
68
Date Found
5/24/22
Number of Eggs
116
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 8 – July 18
Date Hatched
July 10
Number of Hatchlings released
112
Date Found
5/24/22
Number of Eggs
101
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 8 – July 18
Date Hatched
July 11
Number of Hatchlings released
97
Date Found
5/24/22
Number of Eggs
101
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 8 – July 18
Date Hatched
July 10
Number of Hatchlings released
97
Date Found
5/24/22
Number of Eggs
119
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 8 – July 18
Date Hatched
July 9
Number of Hatchlings released
115
Date Found
5/24/22
Number of Eggs
97
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 8 – July 18
Date Hatched
July 9
Number of Hatchlings released
88
Date Found
5/25/22
Number of Eggs
80
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 9 – July 19
Date Hatched
July 10
Number of Hatchlings released
59
Date Found
5/25/22
Number of Eggs
111
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 9 – July 19
Date Hatched
July 11
Number of Hatchlings released
108
Date Found
5/29/22
Number of Eggs
70
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 13 – July 23
Date Hatched
July 14
Number of Hatchlings released
54
Date Found
5/29/22
Number of Eggs
124
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 13 – July 23
Date Hatched
July 14
Number of Hatchlings released
115
Date Found
5/29/22
Number of Eggs
94
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 13 – July 23
Date Hatched
July 13
Number of Hatchlings released
76
Date Found
5/29/22
Number of Eggs
96
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 13 – July 23
Date Hatched
July 13
Number of Hatchlings released
92
Date Found
5/29/22
Number of Eggs
102
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 13 – July 23
Date Hatched
July 14
Number of Hatchlings released
101
Date Found
5/29/22
Number of Eggs
100
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 13 – July 23
Date Hatched
July 15
Number of Hatchlings released
76
Date Found
5/29/22
Number of Eggs
102
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 13 – July 23
Date Hatched
July 14
Number of Hatchlings released
59
Date Found
6/1/22
Number of Eggs
108
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 16 – July 26
Date Hatched
July 18
Number of Hatchlings released
105
Date Found
6/5/22
Number of Eggs
88
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 20 – July 30
Date Hatched
July 23
Number of Hatchlings released
80
Date Found
6/5/22
Number of Eggs
91
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 20 – July 30
Date Hatched
July 21
Number of Hatchlings released
58
Date Found
6/5/22
Number of Eggs
99
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 20 – July 30
Date Hatched
July 25
Number of Hatchlings released
0 – No hatching from this nest
Date Found
6/5/22
Number of Eggs
118
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 20 – July 30
Date Hatched
July 23
Number of Hatchlings released
66
Date Found
6/5/22
Number of Eggs
101
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 20 – July 30
Date Hatched
July 22
Number of Hatchlings released
90
Date Found
6/5/22
Number of Eggs
109
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 20 – July 30
Date Hatched
July 22
Number of Hatchlings released
102
Date Found
6/5/22
Number of Eggs
80
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 20 – July 30
Date Hatched
July 22
Number of Hatchlings released
69
Date Found
6/5/22
Number of Eggs
103
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 20 – July 30
Date Hatched
July 24
Number of Hatchlings released
77
Date Found
6/5/22
Number of Eggs
99
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 20 – July 30
Date Hatched
July 23
Number of Hatchlings released
36
Date Found
6/5/22
Number of Eggs
92
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 20 – July 30
Date Hatched
July 21
Number of Hatchlings released
83
Date Found
6/6/22
Number of Eggs
86
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 21 – July 31
Date Hatched
July 21
Number of Hatchlings released
80
Date Found
6/6/22
Number of Eggs
97
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 21 – July 31
Date Hatched
July 21
Number of Hatchlings released
90
Date Found
6/6/22
Number of Eggs
102
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 21 – July 31
Date Hatched
July 21
Number of Hatchlings released
88
Date Found
6/6/22
Number of Eggs
93
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 21 – July 31
Date Found
6/6/22
Number of Eggs
69
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 21 – July 31
Date Hatched
July 25
Number of Hatchlings released
54
Date Found
6/11/22
Number of Eggs
86
Estimated Hatching Dates
July 26 – August 5
Date Found
5/4/22
Number of Eggs
97
Estimated Hatching Dates
June 18 – June 28
Date Hatched
June 22
Number of Hatchlings released
95
Date Found
6/22/2022
Number of Eggs
66
Estimated Hatching Dates
August 6 – August 16
Date Found
6/23/2022
Number of Eggs
129
Estimated Hatching Dates
August 7 – August 17
Date Found
6/23/2022
Number of Eggs
90
Estimated Hatching Dates
August 7 – August 17
Date Found
5/2/2022
Number of Eggs
105
Estimated Hatching Dates
June 16 – June 26
Date Hatched
July 11
Number of Hatchlings released
108
Date Found
5/2/2022
Number of Eggs
111
Estimated Hatching Dates
June 16 – June 26
Date Hatched
June 23
Number of Hatchlings released
108
Date Found
6/24/2022
Number of Eggs
104
Estimated Hatching Dates
August 8 – August 18
Date Found
6/24/2022
Number of Eggs
116
Estimated Hatching Dates
August 8 – August 18
Date Found
6/24/2022
Number of Eggs
95
Estimated Hatching Dates
August 8 – August 18
Date Found
6/24/2022
Number of Eggs
82
Estimated Hatching Dates
August 8 – August 18
Date Found
6/24/2022
Number of Eggs
108
Estimated Hatching Dates
August 8 – August 18
Date Found
6/24/2022
Number of Eggs
71
Estimated Hatching Dates
August 8 – August 18
Date Found
6/27/2022
Number of Eggs
79
Estimated Hatching Dates
August 11 – August 21
Date Found
6/28/2022
Number of Eggs
99
Estimated Hatching Dates
August 12 – August 22
Date Found
6/29/2022
Number of Eggs
71
Estimated Hatching Dates
August 13 – August 23
Date Found
6/29/2022
Number of Eggs
104
Estimated Hatching Dates
August 13 – August 23
Date Found
6/29/2022
Number of Eggs
100
Estimated Hatching Dates
August 13 – August 23
Date Found
6/29/2022
Number of Eggs
105
Estimated Hatching Dates
August 13 – August 23
Date Found
7/1/2022
Number of Eggs
98
Estimated Hatching Dates
August 15 – August 25
Date Found
5/2/2022
Number of Eggs
81
Estimated Hatching Dates
June 16 – June 26
Date Hatched
June 28
Number of Hatchlings released
0
Date Found
6/28/2022
Number of Eggs
99
Estimated Hatching Dates
August 12 – August 22
Date Found
7/13/2022
Number of Eggs
112
Estimated Hatching Dates
August 27 – September 6
Date Found
7/14/2022
Number of Eggs
84
Estimated Hatching Dates
August 28 – September 7
Date Found
7/21/2022
Number of Eggs
154
Date Found
7/21/2022
Number of Eggs
117
Break down of our final 2021 nesting season
Later this year, we are going to completely renovate and expand our hospital. When it is completed in 2022, our new veterinary clinic will include a surgical suite, treatment area, a lead-lined x-ray room, and a blood work station. There will be a ground-to-ceiling viewing window into our treatment room/surgical suite which will allow for our visitors to watch treatments and procedures. Mark your calendars for summer 2022 to come check out our new hospital!
Patient needs can range from minor treatments to major surgery and long term care. Be a part of the journey through patient adoption.
Shop in our gift store to buy gifts for friends and family. This is a great way to support the mission of Sea Turtle, Inc.
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