Hello, Adventurers! Welcome, first-timers, to the Coastal Expeditions blog! If you love the outdoors, exploring nature, and learning about animals, you’ve come to the right place! Here on the Coastal Expeditions blog we dive deep into different habitats, excursions, conservation efforts and nature programs. To our return readers, welcome back! We commend you for being committed to learning! Our previous post about our After School Sea Kayaking program will tell you everything you need to know about a fun learning opportunity for your kids! Once you’re done reading this article, we suggest giving that article a read!

About Hatchlings

Baby sea turtles are also referred to as hatchlings, but a great number of things must happen for them to reach the point of hatching. To begin, female sea turtles choose a beach of their liking. Beaches with an abundance of artificial light, foot traffic, and noise aren’t likely to be chosen as nesting spots by female sea turtles. When female sea turtles find a nice, quiet place, they can lay up to 200 eggs! They bury these eggs in the sand before returning to the ocean. Yes, that’s right. From this point onward, baby sea turtles are on their own!

While developing inside their eggs, the sex of sea turtles is determined by the temperature of the surrounding sand. Between 83 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit is the sweet spot for producing an even mix of male and female hatchlings. Temperatures below eighty-three degrees will yield more males, while temperatures above eighty-five degrees will yield more females. It’s always better to have an even split!

Forty to seventy days after the nests were created, the hatchlings will begin to escape their eggs (also called pip). To do so, they use a temporary, claw-like tooth called a caruncle. With their caruncle, they’re able to crack open their eggs, but they do not leave the comfort of their eggs immediately. Instead, they rest for a few days, gathering strength for the next leg of their journey. During this time, they absorb nutrients from the yolk sac attached to their umbilical cord.

After a few days have passed, the nest works together to burrow up through the sand. When they near the surface, they stop and wait for the temperature of the sand to cool, indicating night has arrived. Baby sea turtles are less likely to be picked off by predators at night. Birds, ghost crabs, dogs and raccoons all pose a threat to baby sea turtles during their trek to the ocean. This is why it’s estimated by scientists that only one in every one-thousand hatchlings will survive to adulthood.

Did you know leatherback and flatback hatchlings are among the largest sea turtle babies?

Now, the day is gone and night has come. The baby sea turtles emerge from the sand and begin their quick dash towards the ocean. Hatchlings use a combination of slope, light from the horizon, and the white of crashing waves to find their way to the water. Other light sources, such as hotels and campfires, can cause what’s called disorientation. Disorientation is dangerous for hatchlings, since they can waste precious energy crawling towards what they believe to be the ocean.

As they crawl over the sand, hatchlings imprint, which is to say they form a connection to the particular makeup of sand on the beach. This imprinting process is crucial for their eventual survival.

Once the hatchlings reach the water, an all-out frenzy breaks loose. No, really! A swimming frenzy occurs, during which the hatchlings swim as hard as they can to escape the nearshore waters, where predators are common. From here, no one knows exactly where they go. That’s why the next decade of the hatchlings’ lives are called the “lost years.” We know they like to eat molluscs, crustaceans, seaweed, hydrozoans, and fish eggs. And, we know, as long as they’re eating, they’re growing!

When the once-hatchlings near maturity, they return to coasts to forage, many of them making their way back to the beach where they imprinted as babies!

Now, we’re going to go through a couple of scenarios! As you’re reading, try to spot what these people are doing wrong. We’ll go over each scenario and tell you what these people could’ve done differently to protect hatchlings!

Scenario 1

The Green family is spending the day at their local beach. They’ve brought beach chairs, towels, toys and umbrellas to enjoy the sunny day. The Green children spend all afternoon building a sandcastle of epic proportions, with turrets and a moat. When it’s time to pack up for the day and return home,  neither of the children want to see their sandcastle knocked down. The Green parents see no problems leaving the castle as it is, as the tide will surely wash it away soon enough.

What did they do wrong?

While building a sand castle is a commendable feat (let alone one with turrets), leaving the sand castle standing isn’t advisable. Why? Because large structures can act as impediments to hatchlings on their way to the water. They can struggle to find a way around the structure, or even become trapped in the surrounding moat. We recommend knocking down sandcastles and filling in any holes. It’s an honorable sacrifice and one which might save a hatchling’s life!

Scenario 2

The Loggerhead family has booked a hotel suite in a high rise right beside the beach. It’s amazing! The view from their window is breathtaking, pure ocean, and they can walk to the beach in less than a minute. After spending their first day swimming and surfing, they’re absolutely exhausted by the time they return to their hotel. They each wash up and fall into bed, thus forgetting to turn off the light.

What did they do wrong?

You might assume the Loggerhead family’s mistake was forgetting to turn out the light. While turning out the light would’ve been better, merely closing the curtains would have sufficed. Nighttime is the perfect time for baby sea turtles to attempt their trek to the ocean. The last thing anyone wants is for them to become confused by artificial light from a hotel bedroom. Now, most resorts stationed by beaches housing sea turtle nests inform guests of their responsibility to turn off lights and close curtains. But, if your resort fails to do so and you know there are nests on the beach, you must take this responsibility upon yourself and remember to close the curtains at night.

Scenario 3

Sofia Archelon is a travel blogger. She’s seen almost everything and documents her experiences around the world on her blog. While on the beach, late one night, she witnesses a nest of sea turtles making their way toward the water. Quickly, she uses her cell phone to snap a picture of the miraculous sight, flash on. After taking the picture, Sofia notices a hatchling struggling to reach the water like its siblings. Attempting to help, she scoops up the hatchling and deposits the turtle into the water.

What did they do wrong?

We’re sure you can see that there are a few things Sofia might’ve done differently here. First, you should never shine a bright light at hatchlings, especially when they’re on their trek to the water. We’ve already discussed disorientation and how this can be dangerous for hatchlings. However, you should also never pick up hatchlings with your bare hands. The oils on our skin can affect a hatchling’s ability to imprint, which is a crucial part of their development. As well, holding too tight or incorrectly could result in the hatchling’s food sac bursting. This food sac holds at least three days’ worth of food for the hatchling, which they need to survive until they learn to eat.

Scenario 4

John Leatherback is appalled to find a raccoon on the beach digging up sea turtle eggs. He wanted nothing more than to protect the hatchlings from this devious raccoon. Therefore, he sets up a makeshift barrier around the nest and pats himself on the back for a job well done. Then, he leaves.

What did they do wrong?

John’s intentions were good—protecting sea turtles is awesome! However, he might’ve handled this situation a bit differently. What if the baby sea turtles hatch during the night and are unable to escape? What if the raccoon finds a way past John’s makeshift barrier? John did the best he could, but he should’ve called his local wildlife hotline. That’s what everyone should do when they see a sea turtle nest being disturbed, by animals and humans alike. Interfering with baby sea turtles is illegal in most states. The best choice is to allow trained professionals to develop a plan for protecting the hatchlings.

We’re glad you decided to give this article a read and hope you learned something new about hatchlings! Coastal Expeditions offers nature tours, kayak rentals, paddleboard rentals, island tours, kid-friendly tours and chances to explore the Lowcountry! Check out our various offerings and find which one suits you and your adventurous spirit! Our tours are led by knowledgeable, approachable naturalists and sea captains who are eager to answer your questions! Read up new experiences being offered by Coastal Expeditions on this blog. Until next time, readers. Get out there and explore! Adventure awaits!