Sea Turtle Eggs Relocated to Aquarium After West Coast Nesting Event
Olive ridley sea turtle eggs, discovered on a beach near Seal Beach in Orange County, California, have been relocated to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. This relocation was prompted by forecasted high surf from a tropical storm in Mexico and high tides, which posed a threat to the nesting site. The sighting of an olive ridley sea turtle laying eggs on September 16th marked the first recorded natural nesting for any sea turtle species on the U.S. West Coast. Three days later, another sea turtle was observed near Huntington Beach Pier, though it was not confirmed if it was the same individual. Local, state, and federal partners are actively monitoring the original nesting sites, which have been fenced off and marked with interpretive signage. Olive ridley turtles are the smallest sea turtle species, typically weighing up to 100 pounds and measuring 2.5 to 3 feet long, with an estimated lifespan of 30 to 50 years. While these turtles are occasionally seen in Southern California due to warm currents...
