The first sea turtle has nested in Alabama for the year.

Yesterday, Alabama Coastal Foundation—a nonprofit that works to protect sea turtles in the state—was alerted to a nest on Fort Morgan, laid by a Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle, according to a Facebook post.

“We had a turtley exciting start to the 2025 sea turtle nesting season!” the post said.

The nest was laid one day before the official kick off of sea turtle nesting season, when the turtles will come ashore and lay a nest. The season will last until October 31, according to the coastal foundation website.

In the meantime, the eggs will incubate for about 50 to 55 days before hatching, Mark Berte with the coastal foundation said. The baby sea turtles then make their way back to the ocean.

Alabama is home to three different kinds of sea turtles: Kemp’s Ridley, Loggerhead, and Green sea turtles. Kemp’s Ridley turtles are unique in that they nest during the day, Berte said.

All three of those sea turtle species are endangered, and Alabama cities have made efforts to conserve the ancient reptiles, which existed in the time of dinosaurs.

Sea turtles return to the same beach where they had been hatched to build their nest, meaning the sea turtles that were born on Alabama’s beaches will one day return.

Last year, the city of Orange Beach moved forward with construction of a triage center, where injured sea turtles could be rehabilitated or stabilized before transport. That center is funded through settlements from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill disaster.

If you see a sea turtle laying a nest, you should keep a distance of at least 30 feet, Berte said. You can call the coastal foundation’s hotline to report the nest at 866-732-8878.

Beachgoers should make sure to take all of their belongings with them when they leave for the day, Berte said, and fill in any holes they may have dug. Sea turtles can fall into holes or run into items and become disoriented.

Make sure to turn off all beachfront lights, he said, and use a light that is safe for sea turtles.

For more information on how to protect sea turtles, you can visit the Alabama Coastal Foundation’s website.