Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles Arriving En Masse At Padre Island National Seashore

A record number of Kemp's ridley sea turtles came ashore to nest at Padre Island National Seashore on Wednesday. Among the nesters was one female that had been fitted with a transmitter about three weeks ago so biologists could track her movements. NPS photos.

Not since record keeping began in the 1980s have as many Kemp's ridley sea turtles come ashore to nest at Padre Island National Seashore in one day as the 29 that turned up the other day, according to seashore biologists.

On Wednesday, 34 Kemp's ridley nest were found on the Texas coast, including 29 at the national seashore, said Dr. Donna Shaver, chief of the seashore's Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery as well as the Texas coordinator for the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network.

The 34 nests laid in one day along the Texas coast also was a record since tallies were first started back, she said.

Through Thursday afernoon, 131 Kemp's ridley nests had been confirmed on the Texas coast, with 88 counted at the seashore, said Dr. Shaver.