As part of the Flags Across America initiative for America’s 250th anniversary, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is sharing stories from the places where our commemorative flags have traveled. From historic hatcheries to vibrant refuges, each stop celebrates conservation as an enduring American value. Join us as we highlight the lands, waters and wildlife that connect our nation’s past, present and future. We haven't met anyone who doesn't want to see sea turtle hatchlings scurry down a beach from their nests to the ocean. But in case they're out there, a visit to Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands might change their minds. The refuge includes one of the most beautiful and unspoiled beaches in the Caribbean. The beach is one of the world’s most important nesting sites for endangered leatherback sea turtles. Perhaps that’s why the flags visited in May 2026, hoping to see some hatchlings. As you can see, they were not disappointed. (Those are leatherback hatchlings.) Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge was established specifically to protect nesting habitat of the leatherback, the largest turtle in the world, weighing in at up to 2,000 pounds and reaching up to 8...

For the first sea turtle eggs ever laid on California beaches, hatching day — hopefully — draws near. At the Aquarium of the Pacific, 204 olive ridley eggs lay packed between layers of sand in the same styrofoam coolers scientists used to transport them to the Long Beach facility in late September — just days before high tides inundated their Orange County nesting sites. Wireless sensors and cameras monitor conditions within the coolers to ensure their contents remain around 85 to 86 degrees. Aquarium staff check on the makeshift nursery three to four times a day, but will soon increase those visits to every other hour. On Saturday, it will be 45 days since an olive ridley sea turtle crawled out of the surf and deposited a clutch of eggs near the Surfside community in Seal Beach. Three days later, on Sept. 19, a second olive ridley laid eggs eight miles south on Huntington Beach. The species typically has a 45- to 60-day incubation period. While no one is certain whether the eggs are developing normally — or even if they are fertilized — their hatching would be a first for the nation’s West Coast. Federal biologists made a last-minute...

For the first sea turtle eggs ever laid on California beaches, hatching day — hopefully — draws near. At the Aquarium of the Pacific, 204 olive ridley eggs lay packed between layers of sand in the same styrofoam coolers scientists used to transport them to the Long Beach facility in late September — just days before high tides inundated their Orange County nesting sites. Wireless sensors and cameras monitor conditions within the coolers to ensure their contents remain around 85 to 86 degrees. Aquarium staff check on the makeshift nursery three to four times a day, but will soon increase those visits to every other hour. On Saturday, it will be 45 days since an olive ridley sea turtle crawled out of the surf and deposited a clutch of eggs near the Surfside community in Seal Beach. Three days later, on Sept. 19, a second olive ridley laid eggs eight miles south on Huntington Beach. The species typically has a 45- to 60-day incubation period. While no one is certain whether the eggs are developing normally — or even if they are fertilized — their hatching would be a first for the nation’s West Coast. Federal biologists made a last-minute...

A group of women and men in Mexico spent 20 minutes pushing a stranded sea turtle back to sea. When her flipper broke the surface, the ocean did the rest. Read their story.

This Figurines & Knick Knacks item by BusterJustis has 2 favorites from Etsy shoppers. Ships from Bakersfield, CA. Listed on Aug 8, 2026