Every November, millions of Americans hit the road for the holidays. But here on Alabama’s Gulf Coast, some of our most fascinating travelers have already embarked on a journey that makes your Thanksgiving drive to Grandma’s look like a quick trip to the grocery store.

We’re talking about sea turtles! These little travelers don’t have GPS, a playlist, or someone asking how much longer until we get there, but their journey from Alabama’s sugar-white shores to the open ocean is nothing short of incredible.

Buckle up, BEACHBALLERS! We’re hitting the road for an unforgettable adventure!

Born to Be Wild (and a Little Sandy)

Every summer, Alabama’s beaches become a nursery for some very special visitors. Female sea turtles return to shore to lay their eggs, sometimes traveling hundreds of miles to find just the right nesting spot.

Here on the Alabama Gulf Coast, loggerhead sea turtles are our most common nesting species. Sea turtle season generally runs from May through October, with most nesting taking place during the summer months. Female sea turtles make their way onto the beach, dig nests in the sand, and lay around 100 eggs at a time. About two months later, dozens of tiny (and adorable) baby turtles emerge from the sand, usually at night, and begin one of the most incredible journeys in nature.

With no parents around to show them the way, these little adventurers instinctively head toward the brighter horizon over the Gulf. Once they reach the water, they swim toward deep waters and ocean currents, where the next chapter of their lives begins. Imagine being only a couple of inches long and heading out into the Gulf without so much as a swimming lesson! Talk about leaving the nest!

No Map, No Problem

Here’s where the story gets truly incredible. Sea turtles don’t just wander around the ocean hoping to stumble across a nice stretch of sand someday.

Scientists have discovered that sea turtles can sense Earth’s magnetic field, using it as a kind of natural navigation system. This ability helps them find their way during long-distance migrations and may contribute to their remarkable ability to return to familiar nesting regions.

Young loggerheads can spend years traveling through the open ocean. As they grow, their routes and feeding grounds change, with some traveling thousands of miles throughout their lives.

And here’s the part that really gets us: Female sea turtles may eventually return to nest in the same general region where they hatched, sometimes decades after their own first dash across the sand. That’s a heck of a homecoming.

Alabama’s Turtle Team

Thankfully, our local sea turtles have some dedicated folks looking out for them, including our very own BEACHBALL CARES team!

Through Share the Beach, Alabama’s sea turtle conservation program, trained volunteers patrol beaches, identify and protect nests, and monitor hatchling activity. BEACHBALL is proud to be part of the Turtle Patrol team helping protect these incredible creatures right here on our coast!

Visitors can lend a hand, too, without ever touching a turtle. If you’re visiting during sea turtle season, a few simple habits can make a meaningful difference:

• Keep the beach dark at night. Turn off unnecessary lights and avoid using flashlights that could confuse nesting turtles or hatchlings.
• Leave the sand ready for tiny travelers. Fill in holes, flatten sandcastles, and remove beach chairs, toys, and other equipment at the end of the day.
• Give turtles their space. Never touch, crowd, or interfere with nesting turtles or hatchlings. If you spot one, observe quietly from a distance and call the Share the Beach hotline at 1-866-SEA-TURTLE.

And remember, sea turtle nests and hatchlings are protected by law, so one of the best ways to help these adorable little travelers is by keeping our distance and letting them make their journey without interference.

More Than Sand and Sunshine

By November, Alabama’s sea turtle nesting and hatching season has generally wrapped up, and the newest generation of sea turtles is beginning its remarkable life at sea. It’s a wonderful reminder that our beaches are more than a beautiful place to spread out a towel.

And while we can’t promise you’ll spot a sea turtle during your next Alabama beach vacation, we can promise there’s always something worth discovering along our coastline.

Whether you’re planning a family trip, a relaxing stay, or a quiet escape, BEACHBALL PROPERTIES has a place to call home while you explore. Find your next beach stay at BEACHBALL.com, and remember to leave only footprints.

Come Have A Ball At The Beach!

– Ginger & Hunter Harrelson