Protection of Nests

 

Eggs from most sea turtle nests found at Padre Island National Seashore and northward along the Texas coast are transported to the Padre Island National Seashore incubation facility for protected care and monitoring and the hatchlings are released at the northern end of Padre Island National Seashore. However, eggs from some of the nests found at the southern end of Padre Island National Seashore are incubated in a screen enclosure called a corral, located at the base camp near the National Seashore’s 40 mile marker, and the resulting hatchlings are released there.

 

Eggs from nests found on South Padre Island and Boca Chica Beach are transported to a corral on South Padre Island and hatchlings emerging from those nests are released on South Padre Island.

 

Hatchlings from the incubation facility and corrals are released after they enter an active state called a frenzy which occurs about 1-3 days after the slow process of hatching is first detected. Hatchlings are guarded during release to ensure that they safely enter the surf.

 

A few nests are not found on the Texas coast at egg laying and thus incubate at the nest site (in situ). Since these nests are not protected, they typically have a lower survival rate than protected nests.  

 

Public Hatchling Releases at Padre Island National Seashore

 

Each year, the public is invited to attend 15-25 of the releases of hatchlings that emerge from eggs cared for at the Padre Island National Seashore incubation facility. These releases are open to the public free-of-charge and are held at the northern end of the National Seashore, starting at about 6:30-6:45 am.

 

Hatchling releases are extremely popular with the public. Thousands of people attend each year. Local citizens attend in large numbers, as do visitors from out of town.

 

How to Attend a Hatchling Release

 

Once nests are found, their estimated hatchling release dates are listed on this website. Hatchlings are typically released on one or two days within each of these estimated date ranges. Public releases are held when at least two nests are due to hatch and be released at the same time. This ensures that if one or more nest has a poor hatch or hatchlings enter their very active state called a frenzy when they must be released immediately, that there will still be at least one other nest available for the public release. People traveling from out of town to attend a release should target dates when several clutches are due to be released, and arrive at the beginning of the estimated date range, just in case all eggs hatch early within that date range. As the potential release date that you are interested in nears, call the recorded Hatchling Hotline at (361) 949-7163 for the latest information on the upcoming release.  

 

During 2009, hatchling releases began in early-June. Through August 7, 22 public hatchling releases have been held and over 4,000 people have attended. The only remaining potential opportunity for a public hatchling release during 2009 is when the nests found on July 4 and 5 (nests 189, 190, and 192) are released, sometime between August 19 and 26. Unfortunately, there are only three nests in this group and whether or not we will be able to hold a public release for the hatchlings will depend on successful hatching and grouping of hatching of these nests. As those projected release dates near, call the recorded Hatchling Hotline at (361) 949-7163 for the latest information.

Public releases of hatchling sea turtles at Padre Island National Seashore have concluded for 2009. All known Kemp’s ridley nests have hatched. During 2009, Kemp’s ridley hatchling releases began in early-June and continued through August 22. Twenty-three public hatchling releases were held and over 4,000 people attended. Hatchling releases will resume in late-May or early-June 2010, depending upon when the first nests of the year are found. 

Hatchling Release Etiquette

To help ensure safe passage of the hatchlings down the beach and into the surf, white clothing, flash photography, smoking, eating, and entering the water with the hatchlings are prohibited at the releases.

Click on the links below to learn more.

Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle

 

Sea Turtle Science and Recovery