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Most sea turtle mortality happens early in life. Sea turtles usually lay around 100 eggs at a time, but on average only one of the eggs from the nest will survive to adulthood. [135] Raccoons, foxes, and seabirds may raid nests or hatchlings may be eaten within minutes of hatching as they make their initial run for the ocean. [136]
Depending on the species, the number of eggs laid varies from one to over 100. Larger females can lay eggs that are greater in number or bigger in size. Compared to freshwater turtles, tortoises deposit fewer but larger eggs. Females can lay multiple clutches throughout a season, particularly in species that experience unpredictable monsoons. [94]
Mating takes place yearly, in early spring in the southern part of its geographic range, and in later spring in the northern part. About two months later, the female builds a nest and lays a clutch of 10–50 eggs. [17] It was found that some females lay eggs every year and some females lay eggs every other year. [30]
On occasion, on a walk with Loggerhead Marinelife Center, you might even see baby sea turtles hatch from their eggs and scurry to the ocean, which usually emerge in groups of 80 to 120 hatchlings.
Many turtles from the same beaches show up at the same feeding areas. Once reaching sexual maturity in the Atlantic Oceans, the female Loggerhead makes the long trip back to her natal beach to lay her eggs. The Loggerhead sea turtle in the North Atlantic cover more than 9,000 miles round trip to lay eggs on the North American shore.
Turtles live anywhere from 10 years to 150 years, depending on the species. The average lifespan for aquatic turtles is around 40-50 years old.
Female turtles need dry areas to lay eggs and vegetation to burrow and hide. The club urged all owners to be mindful of when a turtle hibernates as that's when the animal's life functions slows.
Unshaded sites with sandy soil are highly preferred. The female usually chooses well-drained areas for depositing the eggs. The nest cavity is dug with the hind feet. The size of the clutch is between six and 20. The eggs are oval, about 3.2 cm (1.3 in) long, and have a flexible shell. After the eggs are laid, the cavity is filled.