Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Northeast Region

Loggerhead Sea Turtles

The female loggerhead sea turtle, after laying her eggs, returns to the ocean.
 female loggerhead
The nest will be relocated to a safer location to improve the chances of a successful nest.
 loggerhead turtle eggs
The eggs are place in a protective cage and buried at the same depth that they were found.
 sea turtle eggs in protective cage
60 days is the normal incubation period for the sea turtle eggs. Then they hatch out.
 sea turtle hatchlings in protective cage
The hatchlings are then released on the beach as soon as they hatch out and are allowed to crawl down the beach to the ocean.
 loggerhead hatchling
It is believed that the females will return to the same beach where they hatched out to lay their own nest.
 loggerhead turtle

 
Last updated: December 12, 2008