Endangered sea turtle nest found at Galveston Island State Park for the first time in a decade – Houston Public Media

A nest of endangered sea turtle eggs was found on the beachside of Galveston Island State Park final week — the first nest discovered at the park in over a decade.

The nest contained 107 eggs laid by a Kemp's Ridley sea turtle, which is among the most endangered sea turtle species on the earth.

This was the primary nest found at Galveston Island State Park since 2012, in response to Christopher Marshall, a professor of Marine Biology at Texas A&M and director for the Gulf Heart for Sea Turtle Research.

Once the nest was found, it was brought to an incubation facility at Padre Island National Seashore, Marshall stated.

“Each egg matters,” Marshall mentioned. "A lot of nesting habitat for the Kemp's Ridley has been lost to storms, high tide and predation, which is why it is very important transport these nests to an environment where they've one of the best likelihood for survival into adulthood."

The species was virtually misplaced in the 1980s till intensive conservation efforts were applied on nesting beaches and thru fisheries administration, in line with NOAA Fisheries. Bycatch — the intentional seize of non-target species whereas fishing — continues to be the largest menace facing Kemp's Ridley sea turtles.

Marshall stated the standard nesting season for the Kemp's Ridley sea turtle runs between April 1 and July 15. He urged anyone who finds a nest to stay not less than 60 ft away and to call the Sea Turtle hotline at 1-866-TURTLE-5.

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