Sea turtle makes rare, first-ever nest on West Coast beach thanks to warm waters from looming 'Super' El Niño
Due to the powerful El Niño, water temperatures are way above normal, which is bringing rare sea life to the shores of California.
The first-ever recorded natural nesting for a sea turtle on the West Coast
🐢 SPECIAL MOMENT: The first-ever recorded natural nesting for any sea turtle on the West Coast occurred in California as the Olive Ridley sea turtle burrowed her eggs near Seal Beach last week.
THE TAKEAWAY
- A sea turtle made the first-ever recorded natural nesting on the West Coast.
- The olive ridley sea turtle burrowed a nest near Seal Beach in California.
- Another sea turtle burrowed a nest on a beach a few miles away.
ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. – A rare moment along the beach in Orange County, California, captured an Olive Ridley sea turtle digging a nest and laying eggs.
According to NOAA, this is the first-ever recorded natural nesting for any sea turtle species on the West Coast.
An olive ridley sea turtle burrows a hole for her eggs near Seal Beach in California.
(NOAA Fisheries West Coast / Facebook)
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"These sea turtles are found worldwide, primarily in the tropical waters of the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic oceans. Major Pacific nesting populations span Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama," said the NOAA. "While occasionally seen in Southern California following warm currents, this species has never been documented to nest in the United States."
Video shared by NOAA Fisheries shows the turtle digging and burying its eggs in the sand, paying no mind to the observer behind it.
Local officials set up fencing around olive ridley sea turtle nest.
(NOAA Fisheries West Coast / Facebook)
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Additionally, three days later, officials observed another sea turtle on a beach a few miles away near Huntington Beach. Still, it is currently unclear if this is the same turtle as before.
These adult sea turtles can weigh up to 100 pounds and can live an estimated 30-50 years.
(FOX Weather)
With nesting season coming to an end, forecasters point to the brewing ‘Super’ El Niño as the reason for this rare event.
Due to the powerful El Niño, water temperatures are way above normal, which is bringing rare sea life to the shores of California.
Eggs burrowed by an olive ridley sea turtle in California.
(NOAA Fisheries West Coast / Facebook)
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Thankfully, officials will monitor the testing area, keeping it fenced and protected over the next 45-60 days as they wait for the cute baby turtles to hatch.
The best thing to do while a sea turtle is digging a nest is to give the animal plenty of distance and not disturb the fencing protecting it.