Rare Olive Ridley Turtle Nest Found in Ventura

The nest, containing olive ridley sea turtle eggs, was discovered November 1, 2026, along the shoreline close to Ventura Pier. A passerby alerted California State Parks, which notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Officials have placed a cordon around the eggs, between the shore and the boardwalk. The nest is the third confirmed natural sea turtle nest found on the West Coast and the third documented along Southern California’s coast.

The discovery follows two nests found in September in Seal Beach and Huntington Beach. Federal biologists relocated those clutches to Long Beach’s Aquarium of the Pacific after forecasts warned that high tides could inundate the nesting sites. Their eggs are nearing the end of an incubation period of 45 to 60 days and could hatch soon. Fish and Wildlife has not confirmed whether the Ventura eggs will also be moved.

An extreme marine heat wave and strong El Niño conditions have warmed Southern California waters, bringing them closer to temperatures in the turtles’ usual nesting areas. Olive ridleys generally nest in tropical regions, with large groups found across Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. Prior to California’s recent nests, the northernmost known nesting site was in Baja California Sur, about 700 miles south of Orange County.

Residents have urged people to keep their distance and follow the rules around the protected nest. Olive ridley turtles are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, and disturbing nests can lead to fines of up to $50,000 or imprisonment. NOAA estimates that about one in 1,000 hatchlings survives to adulthood.