sea turtles

This morning we woke up at 5:00 AM to go see the sea turtles be released into the wild. The baby sea turtle eggs had been found about 22 miles South from where we were. The park rangers take care of the eggs, helping them escape from the clutches of coyotes, raccoons, snakes, and people, until they are able to hatch. When they hatch, they are then released. The baby turtles move toward the bright light of the sun and crashing waves, thus you have to be there really early to watch them 'begin' their lives. The turtles were moving slowly this morning, but we stuck around the hour and forty minutes it took for the first turtle to make its way to the water. :) It hit the water to large applause and the high hopes of those of us watching it take off. The turtles were really little, and very cute. Once in the water, you could only spot its little head a small moment before it was gone into the gulf. :(

Our friends got up early too, to accompany us to the beach. :)

AWWWWWW! :)

statistically only one of these (out of 100) will survive :(

The park rangers held up these streamers when birds flew by---LEAVE OUR TURTLES ALONE!!

sun rise over Malachite Beach on Padre Island National Seashore