Magic at the Seashore: Working & Mentoring Interns in the Division of Sea Turtle Science & Recovery at Padre Island National Seashore

Anna Tripp with her first nesting Kemp's ridley sea turtle at North Padre Island.

NPS Photo / Paulina Adame

Written by Anna Tripp
My Student Conservation Association (SCA) social media internship at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts was ending, and I had been offered a permanent position as the Visual Information Specialist (read more about my journey). I accepted the position in February with the agreement between my park’s superintendent and I, that I would have the support to continue growing as a field biologist. This meant, leaving the park temporarily to work at another park site. With a background in marine science and fisheries work, I knew I wanted to go back to working with marine wildlife. During my time at Mote Marine Laboratory (2020), I learned about the critically endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle (which nearly became extinct in the 1980s) and had hoped to have the rare opportunity to see this day-nesting sea turtle and experience an “arribada” (their group nesting event). Knowing that within the United States the majority of Kemp’s ridley sea turtles nest at Padre Island National Seashore, I knew this is where I wanted to go. Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts' Superintendent Ken Bigley (SCA ‘91 and ’92), Chief of the Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery Dr. Donna Shaver (SCA ‘80), and biologist Hilary Frandsen immediately became key in making this a possibility!

Anna Tripp and Dr. Donna Shaver at the Padre Island National Seashore Sea Turtle Lab.

NPS / Bethany Ozolins

Fast-forward to May 10^th, which was my first day working in the park’s Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery (established in the late 1970s). Luckily for me, it was an arribada day, and I got to see my first ever nesting Kemp’s ridley sea turtle while being quickly trained by one of the lead biotechnician’s, Paulina Adame. I immediately fell in love with this beautiful species as I watched her carefully lay her eggs on the public beach. Days went by, and despite working 10-hour shifts patrolling the beach, I had yet to encounter another Kemp's ridley. I had to remind myself that this species is critically endangered, and it was not luck that was against me. Alas, if volunteers who have been working years had never encountered a nesting Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, why should I expect to see more than one, I thought to myself.

Storm clouds over the beach at Padre Island.

NPS Photo / Anna Tripp

It was not until exactly a week later when a storm came through the morning causing us to halt patrol that I saw another Kemp's ridley. While waiting for dispatch to give us the “O.K.” I began getting acquainted with the two SCA interns who were assigned to egg-running that day (egg-runners go 10-30 miles south of Headquarters and wait to receive nesting information to then go and collect the one or more nests and safely bring them back to the incubation room at the lab). Once we got the “O.K.,” I gave the SCAs a 15-minute lead before heading back on patrol to remain spread out. Not even 20 minutes had passed when I noticed they were stopped and out of their truck. Concerned they may have gotten stuck in the loose sand; I went to investigate and quickly realized they had a Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, which was headed to the water after nesting. In the most ideal scenario, one would begin collecting data and tagging when the turtle is in her trance-like state (a state where Kemp’s sea turtles are oblivious to their surroundings and defenseless); however, this was quite the opposite scenario. She was eager to get back in the Gulf of Mexico making it challenging for the SCAs to collect a biopsy sample, measurements, scan for a PIT tag (a small internal tracking device), and apply external metal tags. Knowing how essential it is to collect Kemp’s ridley sea turtle data, I knew I had to help. I restrained the turtle and guided the SCAs since this was their first turtle encounter. I became immensely humbled remembering how I once used to be in their shoes, working hard and looking up to federal biotechnicians and biologists, dreaming of the day I would become one myself.

Anna Tripp restrains a Kemp's ridley sea turtle while walking SCA intern Savannah Brown through the metal tag application process.

NPS / Nicole Cotcher

Three weeks pass and now it was time for the first few nests laid in April to begin hatching. I started working 10-hour night shifts (starting at 9pm) with the SCAs (crew of 4) and two other biotechnicians. Emma Pontius, the lead night crew biotech, trained us in monitoring the incubation room, doing nighttime releases, and conducting egg-analysis post hatches. My mind was blown seeing the amount of unique biological work the SCAs would be doing for the remainder of the summer, all of which included great attention to detail. Naturally, I was sad to only have a week in this role, but I was grateful for every moment I got to spend mentoring and working with the crew. Each night release became more special to me knowing I may never have the opportunity to hold or see another Kemp’s ridley sea turtle again. I have never been one to believe in magic, but releasing the world’s smallest and most endangered sea turtle species under thousands of stars over the quiet beach, after weeks of patrolling in the Texas heat and rushing to protect all nests from danger, felt like the most magical moment.

Above: Biotechnician Abby overseeing Anna Tripp and SCA interns during the first Kemps ridley hatchling night release.
Below: Kemp’ ridley hatchlings in their incubation box ready to be released at the beach.

NPS Photos / Emma Pontius, Anna Tripp

Experiencing Padre Island National Seashore will forever be one of the most memorable opportunities of my career. From colorful sunsets to hazy sunrises, herds of deer grazing in the grasslands, ground squirrels running by the beach, large brown pelicans soaring above the shoreline, and of course nesting Kemp’s ridleys, all make this seashore a Texas gem.

—Anna R. Tripp

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