Texas Turtle Nest Update 5/17/2017

Via Dr. Donna Shaver

NEW STATE RECORD SET YESTERDAY!

Yesterday, 43 Kemp’s ridley nests were found in Texas, including 28 at Padre Island National Seashore, 6 on South Padre Island, 4 on North Padre Island north of Padre Island National Seashore, 1 on Bolivar Peninsula, 1 on Galveston Island, 1 on Surfside Beach, 1 on Mustang Island, and 1 on Boca Chica Beach.

The 236 Kemp’s ridley nests found in Texas this year exceeds the previous annual record of 209 nests found in 2012. The 144 nests found at Padre Island National Seashore exceeds the previous annual record of 117 Kemp’s ridley nests found there during 2009 and 2011. The 14 nests found at Boca Chica Beach also exceeds the previous annual record of 12 nests found during 2008.

Nesting has already started today and the nesting season could extend until mid-July, so certainly more nests will be recorded in Texas this year.

KEMP'S RIDLEY TURTLE
So far this year, 236 nests have been confirmed on the Texas coast including (north to south in state):

2 Bolivar Peninsula

4 Galveston Island

0 Brazoria County, N. of Surfside 

1 Surfside Beach 

0 Quintana Beach 

0 Bryan Beach 

0 Brazoria County, N. of Sargent Beach 

0 Sargent Beach 

1 Matagorda Peninsula 

0 Matagorda Island

1 San Jose Island

8 Mustang Island

6 North Padre Island north of Padre Island National Seashore

144 Padre Island National Seashore

55 South Padre Island

14 Boca Chica Beach 

LOGGERHEAD TURTLE
So far this year, 0 nests have been confirmed on the Texas coast including (north to south in state):

GREEN SEA TURTLE
So far this year, 0 nests have been confirmed on the Texas coast including (north to south in state):

Data presented here are preliminary. Do not cite or quote without permission. Contact Donna Shaver for further information.

Updates regarding nesting are also posted at the Padre Island National Seashore website:  https://www.nps.gov/pais/learn/nature/2017-nesting-season.htm