Born on Texas Soil           

by Mary Ann Tous, Texas Master Naturalist

Would you believe that there is a group of Texas natives who return to the place of their birth so their offspring will also be born on Texas soil? They don’t wear cowboy hats nor do they speak with a southern drawl, yet they are every bit as Texan as their human counterparts. 

Kemp’s ridley sea turtles return to Texas beaches to lay their eggs between April and July. The eggs hatch during the summer months. The turtles imprint upon the sand and, when they mature, they will return to their birthplace. Female Kemp’s ridley sea turtles often travel hundreds of miles during this journey.

Imprinting is believed to have a geomagnetic basis whereby sea turtles are able to navigate long distances by using features of the earth’s magnetic field. There is evidence that the sense of smell and/or chemical cues may also play a part. 

Whatever the exact cause, the female Kemp’s ridley sea turtles which hatch on the Texas Gulf shores return to the same shores to nest in their adulthood. Once on shore, they laboriously scoop a shallow hole in the sand out of the tide’s reach and leave their eggs to incubate for 48 to 62 days. After the female turtle carefully covers her clutch of eggs to shield the nest against natural predators such as raccoons and foxes, she returns to the sea.

Beginning in June every year, thousands of hatchlings begin life as native Texans before embarking on their own journey through the ocean where they play an important role in maintaining the fragile marine ecosystem. 

The Kemp’s ridley species is recognized as the most endangered of all seven species of sea turtles so, with their survival at risk, it is more important than ever to protect them.  

Fortunately, conservation efforts have been very successful and the number of Texas hatchlings is steadily increasing due to dedicated volunteers and staff who work with the many agencies that protect endangered species.

If you have questions about the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, please contact the Rio Grande Valley Chapter Texas Master Naturalist at www.rgvctmn.org.