Rare sea turtle nest monitored, rehabbed turtles released into the Gulf

Another rare sea turtle nest has been discovered on the Pass Christian Beach. Harrison County Sand Beach Authority workers discovered what the IMMS later determined to be a nest buried in the sand near the Walmart in Pass Christian on July 13. Although the clutch of eggs is nestled underneath the sand, IMMS staff were able to locate the nest by following the sea turtles’ tracks from the waterline to the buried nest’s location.

“We would like to thank the diligent workers from Harrison County Sand Beach for spotting the tracks and reporting it to us,” says Theresa Madrigal, stranding coordinator for the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS). “You may see this marked off area as you are driving or walking by. We kindly request that the public do not walk into the marked off area and to please keep pets away. Sea turtles and their nests are federally protected by the Endangered Species Act.”

If viable, the eggs should hatch sometime in early September. Until then, IMMS workers are closely monitoring the nest. A typical sea turtle nest has one hundred eggs that will incubate between fifty to sixty days before hatching.

“Though nesting is rare on the mainland, our staff is hopeful that sea turtles will continue to utilize our beaches in the years to come,” Madrigal says.

Last year, county beach workers made a similar discovery – the first nest of rare sea turtle eggs found on the Mississippi mainland since 2018. Unfortunately, no hatchlings emerged alive from that nest. IMMS crews are hopeful things will turn out differently this time around.

The IMMS also released five rare Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles back into the Gulf along the shoreline of the Pass Christian beach on August 1. The turtles were released back into coastal waters after receiving rehabilitative care at the IMMS facility based in Gulfport.

Those who see sea turtle tracks on the beaches in Mississippi or wounded or stranded marine mammals or sea turtles are asked to promptly call the IMMS hotline at 888-767-3657.