Sea Turtle Nesting on California Beaches Marks Historic First for US West Coast
Olive ridley turtles have laid eggs at two Southern California locations, a behavior never before recorded in the region.
For the first time in recorded history, sea turtles have nested on the U.S. West Coast, with multiple olive ridley turtles laying eggs on Southern California beaches.
The initial nesting event occurred near Seal Beach on September 16. Three days later, on September 19, another nesting was discovered a few miles away near the Huntington Beach Pier in Orange County.
“This is the first-ever recorded natural nesting for any sea turtle species” on the West Coast, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) West Coast Fisheries division announced on Facebook.
Olive ridley turtles, the smallest of all sea turtle species, typically weigh up to 100 pounds. While found worldwide, they are primarily located in the tropical waters of the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic oceans. According to NOAA, incubation for sea turtle eggs generally lasts between 45 and 60 days.
Both nesting sites have been secured with fencing to protect the eggs. Marine safety officials expressed excitement about the unprecedented event. Lifeguards on patrol at night observed one of the turtles digging in the sand and initially mistook its behavior for distress, not realizing it was nesting.
The discovery has generated public interest, with some beachgoers hoping for the successful hatching of the eggs, despite potential impacts from tides, storms, and beach events.