Kemp’s ridley sea turtles built nearly 700 nests along Texas beaches in 2026, a sharp increase from the previous year, according to the National Park Service.
WASHINGTON — The number of Kemp’s ridley sea turtle nests recorded on Texas beaches rose significantly this year, offering an encouraging sign for the endangered species’ recovery, the National Park Service said.
The National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and conservation partners documented 697 Kemp’s ridley nests during the 2026 nesting season. That total represents a 55% increase from the 449 nests recorded in 2025, the NPS said in a news release.
Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are typically found along the northern Gulf Coast. The species has been listed as endangered since 1970, after egg collection, fishing bycatch and habitat loss pushed it close to extinction. Federal and state agencies began reintroduction efforts in 1978 to establish a self-sustaining nesting colony in Texas, according to the NPS.
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“What began as a conservation emergency has become a remarkable success story,” said Dr. Donna J. Shaver, chief of the division of sea turtle science and recovery at Padre Island National Seashore. “On the Texas coast, growing from about one nest every three years in 1978 to nearly 700 nests in 2026 would not have been possible without decades of partnership among thousands of people and organizations across the U.S. and Mexico.”
Conservation work continues, and beachgoers are urged to remain at least 100 feet away from sea turtles. Anyone who sees a stranded, injured or nesting turtle should call 1-866-TURTLE-5 to report it.
The rise in nesting activity has biologists optimistic about the future trajectory of Kemp’s ridley sea turtles, the NPS said.
“After decades of devoted partnership efforts along the Texas coast, we are thrilled to see the community become more and more engaged in conserving these treasures of the Texas coast,” said Cynthia Rubio, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist, in the release. “Seeing a nesting turtle is an amazing life experience, and by reporting them you help ensure the species’ future.”