Current Sea Turtle Nesting Season

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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 on How 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 to hatch sometime between
248	Aug. 8-10

The 2018 public release season ended on Sunday August 5, 2018. Check back starting April 2019 to see projected hatching dates for next season. 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	3
Brazoria County, north of Surfside	1
Surfside Beach	9
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)	123
South Padre Island	58
Boca Chica Beach	7
Total*	250

 

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
Matagorda Peninsula	1
North Padre Island, North of PAIS	0
Padre Island National Seashore (PAIS)	3
South Padre Island	0
Total*	5

* 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 Do not cite or quote without permission.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)	3
South Padre Island	1
Total*	5

* Data presented here are preliminary. Do not cite or quote without permission. Contact Dr. Donna Shaver for further information.