Sea turtle nesting season is from April to September of each year. Find out how many nests of each species have been found at Padre Island National Seashore this year.
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 down in this nest box indicates the eggs are in the process of hatching.
NPS Photo.
For answers to frequently asked questions and tips for increasing your chances of seeing a hatchling release this summer, check out our page onHow to See a Sea Turtle Hatchling Release.
PROJECTED RELEASE DATES FOR KEMP’S RIDLEY SEA TURTLE NESTS HELD IN THE INCUBATION FACILITY AT PADRE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE – 2018
Nest Number(s)
Projected release sometime between
64, 67, 71, 72, 73, 76, 84, 85, 87
June 25-27
88, 89
June 25-June 28
90, 91, 92
June 26-June 29
93, 94, 95
June 27-June 30
96
June 28-July 1
97
June 29-July 2
99
July 1-4
100-102, 104-106, 108-110, 115-119
July 2-5
120, 122-125, 127-133, 138, 140-144, 148
July 3-6
149
July 11-14
150, 153
July 12-15
157, 158, 159, 162,163
July 14-17
166-173, 176-181, 183, 184, 189-193
July 15-18
194, 197, 198, 199, 200, 202
July 16-19
201
July 17-20
206
July 20-23
212, 215, 216, 217, 220
July 21-24
222
July 25-28
224-226, 228, 230-232
July 26-29
233, 235, 236, 237
July 27-30
238-242
Aug. 4-7
243
Aug. 6-9
244-246
Aug. 8-11
First public release is estimated to be between June 14-18. Note that not all clutches are released during the public releases, and public releases do not occur daily. Hatchlings are released when they become active. When this occurs unexpectedly or in the middle of the night, the public cannot be invited to the release. Due to these factors, it is much more likely that a public release will be held on a day when several clutches are due to hatch and be released at the same time.
A female Kemp's ridley sea turtle nesting on the beaches of Padre Island.
NPS photo.
Kemp's ridley nests found in Texas in 2018
Bolivar Peninsula
0
Galveston Island
2
Brazoria County, north of Surfside
1
Surfside Beach
8
Quintana Beach
1
Bryan Beach
1
Brazoria County, North of Sargent Beach
1
Sargent Beach
0
Matagorda Peninsula
7
Matagorda Island
0
San Jose Island
12
Mustang Island
14
Corpus Christi Bay
0
North Padre Island, North of PAIS
13
Padre Island National Seashore (PAIS)
122
South Padre Island
58
Boca Chica Beach
7
Total*
247
This large disturbed area and tracks were made when a loggerhead sea turtle nested on Padre Island.
NPS Photo.
Loggerhead nests found in Texas in 2018
Galveston Island
1
North Padre Island, North of PAIS
0
Padre Island National Seashore (PAIS)
1
South Padre Island
0
Total*
2
* Data presented here are preliminary. Do not cite or quote without permission. Contact Dr. Donna Shaver for further information.
These tracks were left behind by a green sea turtle that nested on Padre Island.
NPS Photo.
Green nests found in Texas in 2018
North Padre Island, North of PAIS
1
Padre Island National Seashore (PAIS)
0
South Padre Island
0
Total*
1
* Data presented here are preliminary. Do not cite or quote without permission. Contact Dr. Donna Shaver for further information.
