Watching the sea turtle hatchling release is one of many activities campers and beachgoers can enjoy at the Padre Island National Seashore. Photo from NPS.
You’ll need to be an early bird to see the baby turtles. The second release of Kemp’s ridley hatchlings at Padre Island National Seashore is set for 6:45 a.m. Tuesday, June 23, in front of the Malaquite Beach Visitors Center at the national park.
Double check the park’s Facebook page before heading out to the site on Park Road 22, however. You can also call the Hatchling Hotline at 361-949-7163 to make sure the turtles are ready to be released on schedule. No cancellations after 2 a.m.
The first of the clutches of turtle eggs were released Friday, June 19. Turtles take four- to five-days to completely hatch. They are released when they go into a frenzy, said Donna Shaver, chief of the Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery at the park.
“We don’t hold turtles for public viewing,” Shaver said. “Once they go into their frenzy, if we held them, they would use up their energy and wash back to shore and die.”
Hatchlings typically reach the frenzy stage anywhere from 8 p.m. to sunrise on the fourth or fifth day.
“The more clutches we have hatching at one time, the better chance of pulling off a public release,” Shaver continued. “It provides some insurance.”
Admission to the park is free for those coming to view the release. Just tell the guards at the entrance station why you are there. About two miles after the entrance station, you will see a hatchling release sign (posted at about 6:15 a.m.) on the right and the large Malaquite Beach Visitor Center parking lot on the left. Park in the lot and meet on the deck of the visitor center for a brief program about the turtles, which begins at 6:20 a.m.
Viewers will be lead to the release site at 6:45 a.m.
Please don’t bring any food, as it will attract gulls. Also, do not wear white colored clothing or footwear or take flash photos. All of these things will disorient the hatchlings from their main goal of reaching the water, Shaver warned.
This year’s first release came slightly later in the year than typical, Shaver said, because of the unusually cold and wet spring.
“Each year is a little bit different, depending on when the first nesting occurs,” she said. “So far the season is going okay. It’s better than last year.”
Nesting season should end in about a month. So far, 151 nests have been found in Texas, already higher than the 119 found last year. In 2013, 153 were found; in 2012, 209 were found.
Beach goers should report any turtles or nests to the national park, which relocates and nurtures nests of eggs until they hatch and can be released into the surf. All nests found along the Gulf coast, from Mexico to Louisiana, are transported to the park for careful nurturing and study. The number to call at the seashore's headquarters is 361-949-8173.
The National Seashore has been instrumental in the recovery of the Kemp's ridley sea turtle, which was near extinction. Shaver was honored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as an Endangered Species Recovery Champion in 2013 for her efforts to bring back the Kemp's ridley.
"Our knowledge of the endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtle has been expanded thanks to Recovery Champion Dr. Donna Shaver," said the national park in a statement "She has helped protect the nesting beaches on which this species relies, increased its numbers and provided citizens with an opportunity to help in its recovery."
