About Sea Turtles

The sex of a baby turtle is determined by sand temperature with more females hatching at higher temperatures. For example, leatherbacks have a temperature threshold of 85^o F; therefore, there is a higher proportion of female to male hatchlings. In cooler sand beaches along the Atlantic coast of the U.S., more male turtles are likely to hatch on northern beaches than on southern beaches.

After an incubation period of about 6-10 weeks, depending on the species, hatchlings ‘pip' or break through their eggshell, and begin the tiring crawl out of their sand covered nesting chamber. Using the natural light of the moon and other visual cues, hatchlings anxiously make their way for the sea and start swimming into the direction of the waves.

While in their nests and on their journey to the water, hatchlings are in danger of being crushed by humans and vehicles, predation by birds and other animals and disorientation by artificial lighting - but the threats do not stop there. Once in the water, they face ever increasing challenges like pollutants, dredging, marine debris, vessel collisions and fishery interactions. When hatchlings enter the water, they begin a ‘swim frenzy' away from the coastline. Because little is known about what occurs during this time, many researchers refer to the first few years of a hatchling's ocean life as ‘the lost years.'

Even as sea turtles reach maturity, they are still at risk from predators including sharks, killer whales, and in some places, crocodiles. Some of the larger and slower growing turtles, such as the loggerheads, do not reach sexual maturity until they are about 32 years old. Other smaller sea turtle species, such as the Kemp's ridley, reach maturity at around 6 years of age. Once female turtles reach maturity, they come ashore to the same area where they were born to lay their eggs. Female sea turtles use the Earth's magnetic field to guide them home and continue a life cycle that has been occurring for more than 100 million years.