Coast / Sea turtles
The Texas coast is important nesting and nursery habitat for the endangered Kemp's ridley, the smallest sea turtle. All sea turtles, their eggs, and their hatchlings are protected. If you find one on the beach, give it room and make the call instead of trying to help with your hands.
If you find a sea turtle that is nesting, stranded, injured, entangled, or dead, do not touch the turtle or a nest. Call 1-866-TURTLE-5 (1-866-887-8535) and follow the recorded instructions. Note the beach marker or GPS location from a safe distance.
Padre Island National Seashore runs public hatchling releases in summer - usually mid-June through August, around 6:45 a.m. on Malaquite Beach. It's one of the great wildlife experiences on the coast. Call the park's Hatchling Hotline, (361) 949-7163, before you go (releases can be canceled), and skip the flash photos.
In nesting season, bright lights disorient hatchlings, so coastal towns ask people to shield or dim beachfront lights at night and avoid flashlights and flash photos near turtles.
Dolphins (and the occasional manatee), nesting birds, and the dunes are protected too - keep your distance, leash dogs, and stay off the dunes. Report a stranded or dead dolphin or whale to the Marine Mammal Stranding Network, 1-800-9-MAMMAL (1-800-962-6625).
For the full coastal who-to-call (sea turtles, dolphins, and more), see the Wildlife hub's coast page.
Official sources
Sea turtles are federally protected; Padre Island National Seashore runs the recovery program and the public hatchling releases. Report any stranded or injured turtle or marine mammal - don't handle it.
Before you act: Handling a sea turtle or marine mammal is illegal for the public, even to help. Report it and let trained responders take over. Nesting-season rules change - check the park. How to use Texas Porch carefully.
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