An olive ridley sea turtle has achieved a historic milestone by laying eggs on the US West Coast, marking the first-ever recorded natural nesting of any sea turtle species in the region. The turtle was initially spotted near Seal Beach on 16 September, and three days later, another olive ridley turtle laid eggs near Huntington Beach Pier in Orange County. Both sites have been fenced off and are now under observation by local authorities and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Olive ridley turtles are the smallest sea turtle species, with adults typically weighing up to 45.3 kilograms, and are primarily found in tropical waters across the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans. The eggs will undergo incubation for approximately 45 to 60 days before hatching. Lifeguards initially thought the turtle appeared unwell when they spotted it digging in the sand at night, but subsequently observed it laying eggs. Local residents have expressed enthusiasm for the nesting event, hoping the eggs will survive potential threats from tides, storms and beach activity.