Padre Island National Seashore plans to hold a public sea turtle hatchling release on June 18.
This is the first public hatchling release of Kemp’s ridley sea turtles the national seashore has announced during the 2026 season.
At these events, park staff and trained volunteers release turtles that hatched in the park’s incubation facility. Members of the public are invited to see the hatchlings crawl and swim into the gulf.
The release is scheduled to begin at 6:45 a.m. June 18 on Malaquite Beach at Padre Island National Seashore, according to a Facebook post from the seashore. But visitors should expect lines or delays at the park entrance so are advised to arrive early.
Visitors are encouraged to call the Hatchling Hotline at 361-949-7163 to make sure the release is happening as scheduled before driving out to the seashore. Releases might be canceled if turtles do not hatch on the expected date or due to bad weather, extreme high tides or flooding.
Park entrance fees are required to enter the park. The park encourages visitors to purchase an entrance pass the morning of the release before arriving. Annual or lifetime pass holders do not need to pay the entrance fee but should present their pass.
This spring has been a successful year so far for the endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle in Texas.
Officials had documented more than 600 Kemp’s ridley nests in Texas by mid-June, exceeding the previous annual record of 449 last year. Records date to 1980.
The location with the most Kemp’s ridley nests in Texas is North Padre Island, particularly at the Padre Island National Seashore. Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are more numerous in Mexico.
Olivia Garrett reports on education and community news in South Texas. Contact her at olivia.garrett@caller.com.
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: First 2026 Kemp’s ridley sea turtle release scheduled June 18 at PINS
Reporting by Olivia Garrett, Corpus Christi Caller Times / Corpus Christi Caller Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Olivia Garrett, Corpus Christi Caller Times | USA TODAY Network
