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4 Responses to 'How do sea turtles that are just hatched know to go exactly into the ocean?'

1. gatoamor82 - February 19th, 2010 at 6:47 pm

   Its a natural instinct, something that cannot be explained.

2. I Love My Pets - February 21st, 2010 at 1:01 am

   They have it ingrained. Its Instinctual. They just know they have to go to the water or die. Those that did not get the instinct. Well they die and they dont produce offspring that will have the same problems. Those that follow the instict, live and go on producing babies that know what to do. It also has something to do with the sun, I read that they have to wait for the sun to go down, and that light pollution from resorts and cities are causing problems for turtle hatchlings all over the world. It confuses them.

3. Earthling - February 21st, 2010 at 11:46 am

   The hatchlings are attracted to light. Even at night, when most sea turtles hatch, there is more light reflection from the moon off the sea than on land. If they do hatch in the daytime, the sea is still the brightest horizon (reflection from the sun). I did volunteer work with leatherback sea turtles, hawksbill sea turtles,and loggerhead sea turtles in Florida, Costa Rica, Panama, and the Philippines. If we found hatchlings on a well lit city beach, we used flashlights to attract them to the sea.

   In Florida, they have bumper stickers on cars that say, “Lights out for sea turtles”. Meaning that people residing on beaches where turtles lay eggs should turn out their back patio lights during the night. Hatchlings are often found crossing beach roads during the night, as well as ending up on peoples’ patios and a few have been found in showers, all due to being attracted to man-made light sources.

   Edit: Here are some links I found on turtles being attracted to lights.

4. amweldon89 - February 23rd, 2010 at 9:03 am

   Natural instinct

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