Sea turtle eggs laid on California beaches have been identified as the first recorded natural nesting for any sea turtle species on the U.S. West Coast. On Sept. 16, an olive ridley turtle laid eggs near Seal Beach, followed by another nesting event a few miles away near the Huntington Beach Pier in Orange County on Sept. 19. This marks the first-ever recorded natural nesting for any sea turtle species on the West Coast, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) West Coast Fisheries division. Olive ridley turtles are the smallest of sea turtles, with adults weighing up to 100 pounds (45.3 kilograms). These turtles are found worldwide but primarily in the tropical waters of the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic oceans. Both nesting sites were quickly fenced off to protect the eggs from human interference and environmental threats. Incubation typically lasts 45 to 60 days, according to NOAA. Trevor McDonald, marine safety chief at the Huntington Beach Fire Department, said lifeguards patrolling at night saw a turtle digging in the sand and initially thought "maybe this turtle is sick. We just don't see this very often," McDonald said. "Then they observed the turtle starting to lay eggs." Heidi Stephen shared that her 9-year-old son, Jude, begged her to take him to Huntington Beach to see the nest. "It's so magical," Stephen said, capturing the awe that many felt upon witnessing the rare event. George Zamora, a local resident, expressed hope that the eggs can survive any impact from tides, storms, and popular beach events. "Let them do their thing," Zamora said. "Let them be born." The nesting events have sparked both excitement and concern among locals and conservationists, highlighting the rarity and significance of this natural occurrence on the West Coast.