Current Sea Turtle Nesting Season

A styrofoam box filled with sand. The sand surface has small curved cracks in it.
Sea turtle eggs hatch underneath the sand over a period of 1-4 days, making it difficult to predict when they will be ready for release. The sand sinking indicates the eggs are in the process of hatching.

NPS Photo.

 

Learn and Explore

2021 Nesting Season

The 2021 Kemp’s ridley nesting season has started! At this time, Park Officials are currently determining whether hatchling releases will be open to the public for the 2021 season. We greatly appreciate your support and interest in our work and look forward to resuming public releases as conditions and guidance allows. Please check this page and our Facebook Page for information on upcoming hatchling releases.

Note: not all hatchling releases are public and public releases do not occur every day. For answers to frequently asked questions and tips for increasing your chances of seeing a hatchling release this summer, check out our page on Hatchling Releases.

Quick links

 
A Kemp's ridley sea turtle nesting in the sand next to green vegetation with the ocean in the background.
A female Kemp's ridley sea turtle nesting on the beaches of Padre Island National Seashore.

NPS photo.

Kemp's ridley nests found in Texas in 2021

Bolivar Peninsula 1
Galveston Island 1
Brazoria County, north of Surfside 1
Surfside Beach 0
Quintana Beach 0
Bryan Beach 0
Brazoria County, North of Sargent Beach 0
Sargent Beach 0
Matagorda Peninsula 1
Matagorda Island 0
San Jose Island 4
Mustang Island 9
Corpus Christi Bay 0
North Padre Island, North of PAIS 4
Padre Island National Seashore (PAIS) 109
South Padre Island 60
Boca Chica Beach 5
Total* 195
 
Loggerhead sea turtle hatchling on the beach next to green vegetation with a UTV and the ocean in the background.
A loggerhead sea turtle nesting at Padre Island National Seashore.

NPS Photo.

Loggerhead nests found in Texas in 2021

Brazoria County, N. of Surfside 0
Surfside Beach 0
Matagorda Peninsula 0
Mustang Island 0
North Padre Island, North of PAIS 0
Padre Island National Seashore (PAIS) 4
South Padre Island 0
Total* 4
* Data presented here are preliminary. Do not cite or quote without permission. Contact Dr. Donna Shaver for further information.
 
A green sea turtle nesting at the base of sand dunes in the early morning.
A green sea turtle nesting at the base of the dunes at Padre Island National Seashore.

NPS Photo.

Green nests found in Texas in 2021

Mustang Island 0
North Padre Island, North of PAIS 0
Padre Island National Seashore (PAIS) 0
South Padre Island 1
Total* 1
* Data presented here are preliminary. Do not cite or quote without permission. Contact Dr. Donna Shaver for further information.
 
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Last updated: July 28, 2021

Contact the Park

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 181300
Corpus Christi, TX 78480

Phone:

(361) 949-8068
This is the primary phone number for the Malaquite Visitor Center at Padre Island National Seashore.

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