 |
Nest 1
Kemp's ridley; 91 eggs; 74 hatchlings released (73 on June 12; 1 on June 13)
82.2% hatching and emerging success (satellite transmitter attached to adult
female) |
|
Nest 2
Kemp's ridley; 95 eggs; 71 hatchlings released (69 June 13; 1 June 15; 1 June
18) 76.8% hatching success, 74.7% emerging success (2 hatchlings died prior to
release) (adult female nested on Padre Island in 1998 and 2000; satellite
transmitter attached) |
|
Nest 3
Kemp's ridley; 99 eggs; 91 hatchlings released (91 June 13) 92.9% hatching
success, 91.9% emerging success (satellite transmitter attached to adult
female) |
|
Nest 4
Kemp's ridley; 116 eggs; 110 hatchlings released (63 June 17; 47 June 18)
95.7% hatching success, 94.8% emerging success (1 hatchling died prior to
release) (adult female nested on Padre Island in 2000; satellite transmitter
attached) |
|
Nest 5
Kemp's ridley; 90 eggs; 69 hatchlings released (67 June 19; 2 June 20) 76.7%
hatching and emerging success |
|
Nest 6
Kemp's ridley; 87 eggs; 23 hatchlings released (20 June 19; 2 June 20; 1 June
21) 26.4% hatching and emerging success (adult female nested on Padre Island
in 1998) |
|
Nest 7
Kemp's ridley; 109 eggs; 101 hatchlings released (101 June 25) 92.7% hatching
and emerging success |
|
Nest 8
Kemp's ridley; 113 eggs; 44 hatchlings released (44 June 25; 1 June 26) 39.8%
hatching and emerging success |
|
Nest 9
Kemp's ridley; 102 eggs; 100 hatchlings released (100 June 23) 98% hatching
and emerging success |
|
Nest 10
Kemp's ridley; 88 eggs; 75 hatchlings released (75 June 30) 87.5% hatching
success, 85.2% emerging success |
|
Nest 11
Kemp's ridley; 105 eggs; 57 hatchlings released (53 July 1; 4 July 2) 57.1%
hatching success, 51.4% emerging success (this female nested earlier this
year, see Nest 2 above; using the satellite transmission her movements were
followed that indicated she was close to shore and may nest again) |
|
Nest 12
Kemp's ridley; 102 eggs; 80 hatchlings released (77 July 1; 1 July 2; 2 July
3) 79.4% hatching success, 78.4% emerging success |
|
Nest 13
Kemp's ridley; 82 eggs; 42 hatchlings released (42 July 5) 51.2% hatching and
emerging success (this female was transported from Mexico, then head-started
in Galveston, TX in 1991) |
|
Nest 14
Kemp's ridley; 103 eggs; no hatchlings released; 0% hatching success (this
female was head-started in Galveston, TX in 1988) |
|
Nest 15
Kemp's ridley; 96 eggs; 92 hatchlings released (90 July 8; 1 July 10; 1 July
13) 95.8% hatching and emerging success |
|
Nest 16
Kemp's ridley; 70 eggs; no hatchlings released; 0% hatching success (female
head-started in Mexico in 1989) |
|
Nest 17
Kemp's ridley; 113 eggs; 107 hatchlings released (105 July 11; 1 July 12; 1
July 13) 94.7% hatching and emerging success |
|
Nest 18
Kemp's ridley; 105 eggs; 88 hatchlings released (88 July 16) 83.8% hatching
and emerging success |
|
Nest 19
Kemp's ridley; 88 eggs; 78 hatchlings released (78 July 16) 89.8% hatching
success, 88.6% emerging success |
|
Nest 20
Kemp's ridley; 105 eggs; 57 hatchlings released (57 July 15) 56.2% hatching
success, 54.3% emerging success |
|
Nest 21
Kemp's ridley; 110 eggs; 77 hatchlings released (76 July 15; 1 July 16) 76.4%
hatching success, 71.8% emerging success |
|
Nest 22
Kemp's ridley; 100 eggs; 76 hatchlings released (1 July 19; 75 July 20) 80.0%
hatching success, 76.0% emerging success |
|
Nest 23
Kemp's ridley; 95 eggs (from Galveston Island); 83 hatchlings released (83
July 28) 87.4% hatching and emerging success |
|
Nest 24
Kemp's ridley; 78 eggs (from Galveston Island); 33 hatchlings released (31
July 29; 2 July 31) 42.3% hatching and emerging success |
|
Nest 25
Kemp's ridley; 122 eggs (from Matagorda Island); 75 hatchlings released (71
July 25; 4 July 26) 63.9% hatching success, 61.5% emerging success |
|
Nest 26
Green sea turtle; 96 eggs; 87 hatchlings released (81 August 3; 6 August 4)
90.6% hatching and emerging success |
|
Nest 27
Kemp's ridley; 116 eggs; 56 hatchlings released (56 August 14) 50.0% hatching
success, 48.3% emerging success |
|
Nest 28
Kemp's ridley; 83 eggs; 72 hatchlings released (72 August 13) 86.7% hatching
and emerging success |
|
Note: Nests 29-31
were nests that hatched on the beach |
|
Nest 32
Kemp's ridley; 112 eggs; 3 hatchlings released (3 September 7) 2.7% hatching
and emerging success |
|
Nest 33
Green sea turtle; 143 eggs; 102 hatchlings released (52 September 14; 44
September 15; 4 September 16) 71.3% hatching and emerging success |
|
Nest 34
Loggerhead; 9 eggs; 7 hatchlings released (September 26) 77.8% hatching and
emerging success |
The 2002 Kemp’s ridley nesting season went well at
Padre Island National Seashore, Texas. The U.S. Geological Survey and National
Park Service conduct a cooperative program to detect, study, and protect nesting
Kemp’s ridleys turtles and sea turtle nests on North Padre Island, including
Padre Island National Seashore. This program involves patrolling the beach to
locate nesting turtles and nests, and conducting public education efforts.
During 2002, 26 Kemp’s ridley nests were found on North
Padre Island, including 23 at Padre Island National Seashore. Six of the 26were
found by beach visitors, 15 by staff turtle patrollers (eight National Park
Service and seven U.S. Geological Survey), and five by volunteer turtle
patrollers. These nests were located between the months of April and July.
Most Kemp’s ridley turtles nest in Mexico and, aside
from these 26, 14 other Kemp’s ridley nests were confirmed in the U.S. this
year. The 23 Kemp’s ridley nests found at Padre Island National Seashore were
the most documented there in a single year.
Ten different nesting Kemp’s ridley turtles were seen
in the local area during 2002; unfortunately, some of the nesting turtles
returned to the water before documentation. Each of the 10 turtles seen was
examined for tags to determine whether she was from the experimental project to
establish a secondary nesting colony of Kemp’s ridley turtles in south Texas and
whether she had nested and been tagged previously. Three of the 10 examined had
tags indicating that they nested on North Padre Island during previous years,
but the remaining seven did not. One of the 10 was from the experimental project
and was seen nesting twice this year.
Satellite transmitters were attached to the first four
Kemp’s ridley turtles found nesting this year. Information from this research is
being used to predict where and when the turtles might nest again within this
nesting season, to aid with nest detection efforts. Data are also being gathered
on where the turtles go in the marine environment between and after nesting.
The 2,779 Kemp’s ridley eggs from 24 of the nests found
on North Padre Island, one nest on Matagorda Peninsula, one nest on Quintana
Beach, and two nests from Galveston Island were collected for protected
incubation and transported to the incubation facility at Padre Island National
Seashore. The hatchlings from these nests and from one nest found at hatching
were released at Padre Island National Seashore beginning on June 12th and
continuing through September 7th. Overall, about 1,887 hatchlings were released
from these 29 nests.
Other sea turtle nests found on the Texas coast during
2002 include one loggerhead and two green sea turtle nests found at Padre Island
National Seashore. The 12 loggerhead and 238 green turtle eggs from these nests
were transported to the incubation facility. Seven loggerhead and 189 green
turtle hatchlings were released from these nests between August 3rd and
September 26th.
Many of the hatchling releases held at Padre Island
National Seashore are open to the public. Releases open to the public are held
at 6:45 am, at the northern end of Padre Island National Seashore.
For more information on attending hatchling releases
at Padre Island National Seashore, call the USGS Hatchling Hotline at (361)
949-7163.
Up to Top of Page
"Help Sea Turtles with Safe Fishing Practices."
Each year, several sea turtles are caught on the Texas
coast accidentally during recreational fishing. Some of these captures can be
avoided. Additionally, injuries to the turtles resulting from the captures can
be minimized if proper steps are taken. The National Marine Fisheries Service
developed and printed bumper stickers entitled "Help Sea Turtles with Safe
Fishing Practices." These stickers outline some of the measures that will help
avoid captures and help minimize injury to captured turtles. As Texas
Coordinator for the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network, Donna
Shaver-Miller was asked to distribute these stickers to various sites on the
lower Texas coast. Since sea turtles are sometimes caught in the surf at Padre
Island National Seashore, this is one of the locations for distributing
stickers.
Information listed on the sticker:
Prevent the event: DO NOT cast your line where
turtles are seen surfacing to breathe.
If you hook or entangled a turtle on your line: -
GENTLY bring the turtle close to you, use dip net or firmly hold front
flippers and shell to safely lift out of water.
- Cut line close to hook and remove line that has
become entangled around the turtle. AVOID turtle's mouth and flipper claws;
use blunt scissors/knife to cut line.
- Do not lift turtle above water by pulling line -
this will result in further injury. If distance to you from boat/pier is too
great or turtle is too large, cut line as short as possible to release turtle.
- Do not remove hook unless turtle is lightly hooked
and it can be taken out without further injury. If uncertain, DO NOT remove
hook.
- Turtles with serious cuts, ingested or deeply
embedded hook need veterinary care. Keep turtle in shade.
Please remember to immediately
notify us
about all sea turtles found stranded and caught on hook
and line. We can discuss each capture individually. Depending on location, we
may be able to travel to the scene to aid with hook removal or transport of the
turtle to a rehabilitation facility. Also, we need to complete a form for each
turtle.
Care should be taken to make sure that the captured turtle does not get too
hot or too cold while on the beach. Please keep captured turtle moist and
shaded. Sea water can be poured over it while awaiting arrival of rescue
personnel from the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network. Network personnel
will transport the turtle on moistened foam rubber (not standing water).
Thank you very much for your help with this.
Padre
Island National Seashore