Texas Just Broke a Sea Turtle Record — And It’s a Big Deal

Something amazing is happening on the Texas coast this year.

As of mid-June, there have been 383 Kemp’s ridley sea turtle nests found — the most ever recorded in Texas. The previous record was 353, set back in 2017. And the nesting season isn’t even over yet, so that number’s only going up.

Most of these nests showed up at Padre Island National Seashore, which has pretty much become the go-to nesting spot for these turtles in the U.S.

What makes this even more impressive? This happened despite a smaller patrol crew and a giant tree that blocked off part of the beach survey route. Yup, a massive beached tree cut off a third of the 65-mile route. Nature really said, “Try me.”

But the team pulled through. Donna Shaver, who leads the Sea Turtle Science and Recovery team at Padre, called it “a real inspiration story.” And honestly, it is. She’s hopeful this could be a turning point for the species.

Now, for a little context:

Kemp’s ridley turtles are the smallest sea turtles on Earth — and sadly, one of the most endangered. They mainly nest in Mexico, but Texas has become a strong backup location thanks to decades of teamwork between the U.S. and Mexico.

Back in the day — like, from 1948 to 2001 — Texas saw fewer than 100 nests total. That’s it. Things picked up between 2002 and 2010, hitting over 900 total nests during that stretch. Since then, the numbers have bounced around. Last year we had 340. In 2019, only 190.

So hitting 383 and counting? That’s a big deal.

Even with all the challenges, this season is proof that long-term conservation efforts actually work. Volunteers, scientists, and just everyday folks have made this possible. According to Shaver, it’s become a real source of pride for the community.

And it’s not just about the numbers. People are showing up. On June 14, a public turtle hatching event at Malaquite Beach brought out hundreds of visitors. Another one’s set for Wednesday.

So yeah, the turtles are coming back. Slowly, but surely. And that’s the kind of win we need.