Wildlife Officials Move Eggs from First Confirmed West Coast Sea Turtle Nests<\/p>\n
More than 200 olive ridley eggs from two Southern California beaches are incubating at a Long Beach aquarium and could hatch around mid-November, and federal officials are drafting an interim strategy should more turtles nest in the state.<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\tBy Danielle NaiduOctober 19, 2026
<\/p>\n
Two olive ridley sea turtle nests found in mid-September near Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge and Huntington Beach, California, mark the first time sea turtles have been confirmed nesting naturally on the U.S. West Coast, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Oct. 13.<\/p>\n
Two different olive ridleys laid the nests, according to the agency. The species usually nests farther south, in Mexico.<\/p>\n
With Hurricane Polo bringing dangerous surf and high tides, biologists collected more than 200 eggs Sept. 25 to keep them from washing away: 100 from Huntington Beach and 104 from Seal Beach. The eggs are incubating in a temperature-controlled setting at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach.<\/p>\n
The service said it usually prefers conservation measures that are minimally intrusive but coordinated a multi-agency response given the circumstances. It is developing an interim conservation strategy should more sea turtles nest in California.<\/p>\n
Partners include NOAA Fisheries, the Aquarium of the Pacific, the Seal Beach Marine Safety Department, the Huntington Beach Fire Department and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The service oversees sea turtles on nesting beaches, while NOAA handles marine conservation.<\/p>\n
If the eggs are viable, they could hatch in 45 to 60 days, around mid-November. Partners plan to release the hatchlings into the ocean near the original nest sites. Warmer water linked to El Ni\u00f1o may allow a natural release, according to the service.<\/p>\n
Olive ridleys are the smallest sea turtle species, weighing up to 100 pounds and living 30 to 50 years. Populations along Mexico’s Pacific coast are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, with bycatch and egg harvesting among the main threats. The service said warmer ocean temperatures and El Ni\u00f1o conditions may be part of the reason the turtles nested in California.<\/p>\n
The public can report sea turtle sightings through NOAA’s online form or the West Coast Stranding Hotline at 562-506-4315. The agency also asked beachgoers to reduce light pollution, which can disorient hatchlings and discourage nesting females.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
About the Author<\/p>\n