In a first, olive ridley turtles spotted nesting on California’s beaches
Summary
For the first time, two female olive ridley sea turtles laid eggs on beaches in Southern California. These turtles usually nest much farther south, and scientists are studying why they are now nesting in California.Key Facts
- Two separate olive ridley turtles nested on different Orange County beaches (Seal Beach and Huntington Beach).
- This is the first documented case of olive ridley turtles nesting on the US west coast.
- Olive ridley turtles typically lay eggs in Mexico and Central America.
- Scientists are investigating causes such as warmer coastal waters, effects of El Niño, or hurricanes potentially pushing turtles northwards.
- Warmer temperatures affect the sex of turtle hatchlings, with higher temperatures producing mostly females.
- The current nesting season is ongoing, and more turtles might nest in the next 1 to 3 months.
- Turtle nests are fenced for protection, but threats include local predators, human disturbance, and extreme weather like high tides or hurricanes.
- People are advised to keep a safe distance and report any turtle sightings to local authorities or NOAA.
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