Rare Sea Turtle Makes History with First Recorded Nesting on U.S. West Coast
Beachgoers and authorities were surprised by the unprecedented appearance of an olive ridley turtle laying eggs.
A rare sea turtle has made history after digging up sand to lay eggs off the U.S. West Coast, marking the first-ever recorded natural nesting for any sea turtle species in the region, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) West Coast Fisheries division.
The reptile was first spotted near Seal Beach on September 16. Three days later, an olive ridley turtle, potentially the same one, laid eggs a few miles away near the Huntington Beach Pier in Orange County on September 19.
Footage captured the creature amidst the sand, appearing to prepare a nest before returning to the sea. Olive ridley turtles, the smallest of sea turtle species, typically weigh up to 45.3 kilograms and are found worldwide, primarily in tropical waters of the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic oceans.
Lifeguards on patrol at night initially observed the turtle digging and expressed surprise, as such sightings are infrequent. "We just don't see this very often," said Trevor McDonald, marine safety chief at the Huntington Beach Fire Department, adding that they then observed the turtle laying eggs.
Both nesting sites have since been cordoned off to protect the eggs, which NOAA states typically have an incubation period of 45 to 60 days. Beachgoers expressed wonder at the event, with one parent, Heidi Stephen, bringing her son to see the nest. "It's so magical," she said.
Concerns were raised about the potential impact of tides, storms, and beach events on the eggs' survival. "Let them do their thing," said George Zamora. "Let them be born."