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First time Sea Turtle nesting in Florida by Cindy Steinle on 2026-06-01 10:10:38

Tini, an olive ridley sea turtle, recently laid her eggs on Junitper Beach, Florida marking the first time ever for that species. While loggerheads, leatherbacks and greens do typically nest on the beach, this was the first ever record nest for the species recorded by Loggerhead Marinelife Center.

Olive ridleys are among the smallest sea turtle species and are known for their olive-green, heart-shaped shells. They are also famous for two nesting strategies: solitary nesting and the “arribada,” a mass nesting event in which thousands of females come ashore at once.

Researchers said Tini’s appearance outside the species’ typical nesting range could be tied to several factors, including warming ocean temperatures, population growth, or fishing-related entanglement that may passively transport injured turtles into Florida waters.