Video/Image Credits: Sea Turtle — Huntington Beach Fire Department; Sea Turtle Eggs — U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
UPDATE — September 26, 2026
What began as a historic first for California has now become an urgent effort to protect the next generation of olive ridley sea turtles in the Pacific.
Two sea turtle nests were recently discovered near Seal Beach and the Huntington Beach Pier and were confirmed to have been laid by two separate olive ridley sea turtles, making the Southern California coastline the focus of a vital conservation effort.
On September 25, biologists carefully removed approximately 200 eggs after hazardous surf, beach erosion, flooding, and high tides threatened the nesting areas. The eggs were transferred to a temperature-controlled environment at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, where they are now being monitored during incubation.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service stated:
“Collectively, we made the challenging decision as high tides combine with dangerous surf conditions, driven by Hurricane Polo.”
The eggs are expected to incubate for approximately 45 to 60 days. If hatching is successful, the young turtles will be returned to their original nesting beaches, where they can begin their journey into the Pacific Ocean.
Sea turtles are protected under the Endangered Species Act, with NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sharing responsibility for their conservation and recovery in the United States.
World Animal News and Peace 4 Animals remain hopeful that these historic eggs represent a promising new chapter for olive ridley sea turtles along California’s coast.
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Two olive ridley sea turtles have made history after nesting on beaches in Southern California, marking the first documented natural sea turtle nesting on the West Coast of the United States.
The first turtle was observed digging a nest and laying eggs near Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge on September 16, 2026. Three days later, another olive ridley sea turtle was observed nesting near the Huntington Beach Pier.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service stated:
“Experts confirmed both nests were laid by two different olive ridley sea turtles.”
NOAA Fisheries also highlighted the significance of the discovery:
“This is the first-ever recorded natural nesting for any sea turtle species on the U.S. West Coast.”
A team of local, state, and federal partners is monitoring both nesting sites throughout the incubation period, which typically lasts 45 to 60 days. Both areas have been fenced and protected, with signage in place to help prevent disturbance.
Officials are urging beachgoers to keep their distance and give the nests plenty of space, helping provide the eggs and future hatchlings with the best chance of survival.
Olive ridley sea turtles are found primarily in tropical waters of the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic oceans. Adults can weigh up to 100 pounds and measure approximately 2.5 to 3 feet in length, with an estimated lifespan of 30 to 50 years. Major Pacific nesting populations are found in Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.
Sea turtles are protected under the Endangered Species Act.
The effort has brought together NOAA Fisheries, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, local firefighters and lifeguards, the U.S. Navy in Seal Beach, and other partners working to protect the two nesting sites.
The historic nesting events mark an extraordinary moment for sea turtles along the California coast as teams continue working to safeguard the eggs and future hatchlings.
