Where Sea Turtles Go, Nobody Knows

Sea turtles — with their nighttime nesting habits and seafaring ways — have long captivated the imagination of landlubbers. Protecting sea turtles in the Dry Tortugas islands in Florida is a challenge because so little is known about their behavior, but a sea turtle nicknamed “Bertha” is doing her part to shed light on turtle habits. Bertha has been transmitting information to USGS scientists via satellite for almost two years about the location of her nesting events and where she goes post-nesting. So far, scientists have watched Bertha take off for the Bahamas after the 2008 nesting season and remain there ever since. For more about Bertha and the science of turtle tracking, check out the USGS Southeast Ecological Science Center website or contact Dr. Kristen Hart at kristen_hart@usgs.gov