NOAA Fisheries West Coast announced September 22 that an olive ridley sea turtle was observed digging a nest and laying her eggs on a beach in Seal Beach, CA.
NOAA Fisheries West Coast announced September 22 that an olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) was observed digging a nest and laying her eggs on a beach in Surfside, CA. this marks the first-ever recorded sea turtle nesting event of any species on the West Coast of the United States. And three days alter, according to NOAA, an unidentified sea turtle was observed a few miles south laying her eggs in Huntington Beach, near that city’s world famous pier.
“Our team of local, state, and federal partners will monitor the nesting sites throughout the incubation period, which typically lasts for 45-60 days, NOAA said in a statement posted to social media. “Both areas are fenced, protected, and have interpretive signage. We urge beach goers to steer clear and not disturb the sites.”
Officials with NOAA prepare a barrier to protect the eggs of an olive ridley sea turtle. Photo by NOAA Fisheries.
The olive ridley turtle is the smallest of the sea turtles, reaching about 100 lbs and about 2.5 to 3 feet in length. They live up to 50 years and are found worldwide, but primarily are found in the tropical waters of the pacific, Indian, and Atlantic oceans. The Pacific populations primarily nest in Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. This is the first occurrence of an olive ridley, or any sea turtle nesting on a Southern California beach.
Nesting olive ridley sea turtle near the Huntington Beach Pier. Credit: Huntington Beach Fire Department.
There is a native population of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) that reside in the San Gabriel River, the river that essentially separates Orange County from Los Angeles County. It is the northernmost population of green sea turtles in the eastern Pacific. With a super El Nino on offer, the waters off the coast of Southern California are extremely warm, with temperatures running to 80 degrees Fahrenheit on some days. It will be interesting in 45 days how the hatchlings will fare if the water cools substantially.
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