First Olive Ridley Turtle Nesting Spotted on California’s Coast

A female olive ridley sea turtle emerged from the surf in southern California around sunset last weekend and began laying eggs in the sand.

Witnesses on Huntington Beach were stunned and thrilled by the rare sight. Justin Viezbicke, California stranding coordinator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), said the response extended far beyond the people who saw the turtle.

“This is the first documented case of a turtle nesting on the west coast,” Viezbicke said.

Two separate olive ridley turtles were later identified nesting on Orange County beaches during the same week—one in Seal Beach and another in Huntington Beach. Scientists are now trying to determine whether the unusual activity represents a one-time event or the beginning of a lasting shift.

Although early reports suggested that one female had nested at both locations, closer examination of the turtles’ shell shapes and barnacle patterns showed that two distinct animals had laid eggs along the US coast, Viezbicke said.

Olive ridley turtles typically nest much farther south, on beaches in Mexico and Central America.

The cause of this northward nesting remains unknown. Scientists are considering several possibilities, including warmer coastal waters, the effects of El Niño and whether a recent hurricane may have pushed the turtles off course.

“There’s been a lot of activity in the Pacific Ocean,” Viezbicke said.

Lance Adams, an aquarium veterinarian at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, said the nests could signal a broader northward shift in olive ridley nesting patterns driven by climate change and warming waters in the turtles’ traditional nesting areas. However, more evidence is needed.

The sex of olive ridley turtles is determined by the temperature of the sand in which their eggs hatch, with warmer conditions producing mostly females. “After about 87.8°F, they’re almost all female,” Adams said. Sea turtles may eventually need access to cooler nesting habitats to maintain a balanced population.

Adams cautioned against drawing firm conclusions from only two sightings: “The turtles could be here by mistake.”

Because nesting season has not ended and individual olive ridley turtles typically produce several nests, “We might see additional sea turtles making beach crawls to nest in the next 30 to 90 days,” Adams said.

Local officials have fenced off both nests for protection. The eggs normally take 45 to 60 days to hatch, but officials cannot guard against every threat.

Predators such as coyotes and careless human activity pose risks, as do new hurricane swells and high tides expected as early as next Monday. Severe weather could “wash away that part of the beach,” Viezbicke warned.

People who encounter a sea turtle on a California beach should not interfere with it and should remain at least 50 feet away. Sightings should be reported to a lifeguard or NOAA’s marine animal stranding hotline.

Approaching fenced nesting sites is also discouraged because the turtles may leave once they sense nearby people. Those hoping to observe live sea turtles can visit rescued animals being treated in rehabilitation tanks at an aquarium.

Olive ridley sea turtles are among the world’s most abundant turtle species, but they are protected under the US Endangered Species Act.

Rising ocean temperatures have also brought unusual marine life to the California coast, including several shark species, rays, seahorses and venomous yellow-bellied sea snakes.

Adams said people should adjust to shifting wildlife patterns and generally maintain distance, although unexpected species may carry different risks.

“Turtles aren’t particularly dangerous to humans. They can bite. They can slap with their flippers. Someone could potentially get hurt, but probably not seriously,” he said.

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