The critically endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtles return to the beaches of Texas and Mexico in April, May and June every year to lay their eggs. Watch this page for daily updates direct from Carole Allen, our Gulf of Mexico Director, and Dr. Donna Shaver, Chief of the Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery of Padre Island National Seashore.

KEMP'S RIDLEY NESTINGS FOR 2012

On April 12, the first Kemp's ridley nests were found on the Texas coast this
year. Eight Kemp's ridley nests were confirmed including 6 at the Padre Island National Seashore, 1 on South Padre Island and 1 on Boca Chica Beach.

The 2012 nest total sets a new record for the number of Kemp's ridley nests
documented in Texas in a year.  The previous record of 199 nests was set
during 2011.  Record keeping for nest tallies in Texas began in the early
1980s.

Use the interactive map below to explore Kemp's ridley nesting beaches in Texas.

KEMP'S RIDLEY TURTLE
So far this year, 209 Kemp's ridley nests have been confirmed on the Texas
coast including (north to south in state):
Bolivar Peninsula 1
Galveston Island 7
Brazoria County, just north of Surfside 1
Surfside Beach 5
Quintana Beach 0
Bryan Beach 0
Matagorda Peninsula 1
Matagorda Island 0
San Jose Island 2
Mustang Island 8
North Padre Island 116, including 106 at Padre Island National Seashore
South Padre Island 59
Boca Chica Beach 10

LOGGERHEAD TURTLE

Five loggerhead nest has been confirmed on the Texas coast

1 Padre Island National Seashore

2 North Padre Island, north of Padre Island National Seashore
1 South Padre Island

1 Quintana Beach

 GREEN SEA TURTLE

4 green turtle nests has been confirmed on the Texas coast at
the Padre Island National Seashore