How Do Sea Turtles Hatch? - National Ocean Service

Home Ocean Facts How do sea turtles hatch? How do sea turtles hatch?

Baby sea turtles hatch from their nest en masse and then rush to the sea all together to increase their chances of surviving waiting predators.

In summertime when the weather is warm, pregnant female sea turtles return to the beaches where they themselves hatched years before. They swim through the crashing surf and crawl up the beach searching for a nesting spot above the high water mark. Using her back flippers, the reptile digs a nest in the sand. Digging the nest and laying her eggs usually takes from one to three hours, after which the mother turtle slowly drags herself back to the ocean. 

The sea turtle lays up to 100 eggs, which incubate in the warm sand for about 60 days. The temperature of the sand determines the genders of baby sea turtles, with cooler sand producing more males and warmer sand producing more females. The phenomenon is called Temperature-Dependent Sex Determination, or TSD, and governs the genders of other reptiles, too, including alligators and crocodiles. Current NOAA research suggests that warming trends due to climate change may cause a higher ratio of female sea turtles, potentially affecting genetic diversity.

When the tiny turtles are ready to hatch out, they do so virtually in unison, creating a scene in the sandy nest that is reminiscent of a pot of boiling water. In some areas, these events go by the colloquial term "turtle boils." Once hatched, the turtles find their way to the ocean via the downward slope of the beach and the reflections of the moon and stars on the water. Hatching and moving to the sea all at the same time help the little critters overwhelm waiting predators, which include sea birds, foxes, raccoons, and wild dogs. Those that make it through the gauntlet swim to offshore sargassum floats where they will spend their early years mostly hiding and growing.

Did you know?

You can help sea turtle mothers and their offspring improve their chances of survival. During nesting season, make a big difference for sea turtles by:

• Filling in holes you make in the beach
• Removing obstacles like beach chairs and trash
• Following turtle-friendly lighting guidelines (like these from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission)
• Staying clear of nesting sea turtles and hatchlings. Sea turtles are protected by law on all U.S. shores.

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More Information

• Sea Turtles (NOAA Fisheries)
• Sea Turtles: An Endangered Species

Last updated: 06/16/24 Author: NOAA How to cite this article

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