Kemp's ridley nesting, Padre Island National Seashore. Photo courtesy National Park Service.

 Highly endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles began nesting in the Gulf just as the BP oil disaster began. So far about 130 nests have been counted, compared to a total of 197 last year. A few Kemp’s ridleys also nest each year on the beaches of Alabama and Florida. They forage throughout the Gulf on crab and other shellfish. Two females equipped with satellite tracking devices after nesting this year on Padre Island National Seashore are traveling directly toward the oily water. Their pathway is mapped at Padre Island National Seashore Kemp's Ridley Tracking - 2010. See seaturtle.org.

See these other links to monitor the potential exposure of these sea turtles to the oil spill. You may need to register to see the tracking info (free, open to public).

Casey Key Loggerheads-2010
TAMUG Kemp's Ridley Tracking
Turtle Hospital, Marathon Florida
Conservancy of SW Florida Keewaydin Island Turtle Tracking Project
Casey Key Loggerheads-2009