Contact:
Tamara Ward
251/442-6002
An excavation of the first Kemp’s ridley sea turtle nest from a National Park Service facility, took place last Friday at 6pm in Gulf Breeze, Florida. The species is the rarest of all endangered sea turtles found along the Gulf Coast.
The staff extracting the nest included Lorna Patrick, a sea turtle biologist from FWS, and Mark Nicholas, the district biologist from the Gulf Islands National Seashore.
FWS, along with the National Park Service, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and other conservation partners believe the newly hatched sea turtles will stand a better chance to survive if they are moved to an area less affected by the Deepwater Horizon (MC252) oil spill. That specific area is yet to be determined, but will be along the east coast of Florida.
The Kemp’s ridley sea turtle is a species designated as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Populations of sea turtles have been in decline in recent years and giving their eggs an opportunity to hatch is critical to the future of the species.
Currently there are ten other sea turtle nests within the Florida District of the Seashore. All are slated to be relocated in the coming months.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit
www.fws.gov.
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