Endangered Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles confirmed nesting on Mississippi’s Ship Island for first time

GULFPORT, Miss. (WLOX) - Scientists have confirmed for the first time that Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles, one of the world’s most endangered species, are nesting on Ship Island off the Mississippi Coast.

Researchers from the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies have documented three Kemp’s Ridley nests on Ship Island between 2022 and 2023, working alongside the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to monitor nesting activity on the barrier islands.

“So this is a very unique discovery, Kemp’s Ridley’s typically only nest in South Texas and Mexico. So Northern Gulf nesting is very rare. This is the first time this has been documented,” said Theresa Madrigal, stranding coordinator at IMMS.

Single photograph sparked investigation

The discovery began with a photograph taken b