Smithsonian Magazine · People & society

Sea Turtles Nest on California Coast for First Time

Two olive ridley sea turtles have nested on beaches in Southern California, marking the first known natural nesting occurrences on the U.S. West Coast. The turtles laid eggs near Seal Beach and Huntington Beach.

Experts identified the turtles as two distinct individuals through photo analysis. The nesting sites have been secured and are being monitored, with authorities urging the public to maintain distance.

Challenges for the developing eggs include cold fall temperatures and potential inundation from high tides. Olive ridleys are small, abundant sea turtles primarily found in tropical regions, though their populations have significantly declined from historical numbers.

Scientists are investigating the reasons for the turtles' presence so far north. Possible factors include disorientation from a recent hurricane, warmer coastal waters, and other effects of the current strong "super" El Niño event.

The turtles' navigation is complex, involving multiple cues beyond temperature, such as an internal compass, wave direction, and food availability, suggesting a combination of factors may be responsible for their unusual nesting location.

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