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A hatchling born a little later than the rest of the nest is shown to the crowd. It will be held and observed a few more hours or days before released. The hatchlings are placed in the sand as part of their imprinting process before their instinctive crawl to the water's edge.
Photos by Jessica Nohealapa'ahi
August 9, 2021
Shell-ebrating the sea turtle
By Jessica Nohealapa’ahi
The Bandera Prophet
On Aug. 4, at 5:30 a.m., my family and I departed our hotel room and began our bleary-eyed trek to the Padre Island National Seashore. We left home the day before with the intent of grabbing a good night’s sleep in anticipation of an early morning. We aren’t hardcore adventurers nor members of the dawn patrol surfing circuit; we were instead in pursuit of a glimpse of palm-sized turtle hatchlings slowly make their way across the sand to frothy ocean waves.
The Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are the smallest and most critically endangered sea turtle species, according the the National Park Service. Since the late ‘70s, the Padre Island National Seashore (PAIS) Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery has been conducting research projects integral to the turtles’ recovery program, to save them from extinction.
Last Tuesday evening, hundreds of tiny turtles hatched from eggs that were relocated from sea turtle nests to protected areas and monitored, a process that typically takes 50 to 60 days. Wednesday morning, 218 hatchlings slowly paddled their way across the sand, under the watchful eyes of staff and volunteers who scared away predatory seagulls.
The release was the third of four held publicly this year. Never guaranteed, several factors must align in order for a public viewing to happen - weather (if it’s raining hard with heavy winds the release will be postponed), public health (there were no public releases held last year due to Covid), and most importantly the eggs must hatch.
“Nothing in science is exact, which is what makes it so exciting. It’s constantly changing as we learn more,” PAIS Public Information Officer Kelly Taylor said. “From the time [the eggs] are laid, we know they will hatch within a specific window. We collect the eggs from the beach, and control the temperature of the sand and space they’re in so we can better predict when they will hatch,” Taylor said, adding something in each egg’s genetics may require a few more days. “Mother Nature is a factor.”
Although this year’s Kemp’s ridley season has concluded, it is expected to resume next summer. Here are some tips to remember:
Turtle releases are set for 6:45 a.m. sharp. By the time we arrived at about 6 a.m., the parking lot was already full, however that doesn’t necessarily mean to get there earlier.
“It’s really important for people to remember not to panic if they don’t get here at 6:45 on the dot,” Taylor said.
The hatchlings take 20 minutes to more than an hour to reach the water’s edge, and the crowd begins to thin after the first few make it. By 7:30 a.m. there were still plenty of babies scooching across the sand.
Sunscreen may not be a concern at that hour, but insect repellant might be something to consider. The sand fleas and mosquitos were especially voracious Wednesday morning, and days later we were all still scratching. In lieu of bug spray, long pants and tennis shoes could be an appropriate option.
On the subject of pants and shoes, visitors are advised to not wear white. The hatchlings are attracted to the seafoam and the sun’s bright rays on the water, and may become confused by white shoes and pants.
If a release is cancelled, an announcement will be made on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nps.pais.seaturtles, as well as the hatchling hotline at 361-949-7163 by 2 a.m. the day of the scheduled release.
PAIS one-day passes are $10 per car, and to avoid long lines at the park entrance, it is recommended that they be bought ahead of time online at www.nps.gov/pais/planyourvisit/fees.htm.
The Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are the smallest and most critically endangered sea turtle species, according the the National Park Service. Since the late ‘70s, the Padre Island National Seashore (PAIS) Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery has been conducting research projects integral to the turtles’ recovery program, to save them from extinction.
Last Tuesday evening, hundreds of tiny turtles hatched from eggs that were relocated from sea turtle nests to protected areas and monitored, a process that typically takes 50 to 60 days. Wednesday morning, 218 hatchlings slowly paddled their way across the sand, under the watchful eyes of staff and volunteers who scared away predatory seagulls.
The release was the third of four held publicly this year. Never guaranteed, several factors must align in order for a public viewing to happen - weather (if it’s raining hard with heavy winds the release will be postponed), public health (there were no public releases held last year due to Covid), and most importantly the eggs must hatch.
“Nothing in science is exact, which is what makes it so exciting. It’s constantly changing as we learn more,” PAIS Public Information Officer Kelly Taylor said. “From the time [the eggs] are laid, we know they will hatch within a specific window. We collect the eggs from the beach, and control the temperature of the sand and space they’re in so we can better predict when they will hatch,” Taylor said, adding something in each egg’s genetics may require a few more days. “Mother Nature is a factor.”
Although this year’s Kemp’s ridley season has concluded, it is expected to resume next summer. Here are some tips to remember:
Turtle releases are set for 6:45 a.m. sharp. By the time we arrived at about 6 a.m., the parking lot was already full, however that doesn’t necessarily mean to get there earlier.
“It’s really important for people to remember not to panic if they don’t get here at 6:45 on the dot,” Taylor said.
The hatchlings take 20 minutes to more than an hour to reach the water’s edge, and the crowd begins to thin after the first few make it. By 7:30 a.m. there were still plenty of babies scooching across the sand.
Sunscreen may not be a concern at that hour, but insect repellant might be something to consider. The sand fleas and mosquitos were especially voracious Wednesday morning, and days later we were all still scratching. In lieu of bug spray, long pants and tennis shoes could be an appropriate option.
On the subject of pants and shoes, visitors are advised to not wear white. The hatchlings are attracted to the seafoam and the sun’s bright rays on the water, and may become confused by white shoes and pants.
If a release is cancelled, an announcement will be made on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nps.pais.seaturtles, as well as the hatchling hotline at 361-949-7163 by 2 a.m. the day of the scheduled release.
PAIS one-day passes are $10 per car, and to avoid long lines at the park entrance, it is recommended that they be bought ahead of time online at www.nps.gov/pais/planyourvisit/fees.htm.
