A shell of a lot to be excited about: O.C. beaches could soon see a rare baby boom
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Regardless of how yesterday’s elections may turn out, at least Orange County nature lovers can take some excitement in the news that, assuming they were fertilized, California’s first-ever sea turtle eggs, found here on Sept. 16 and Sept. 19, could be hatching soon.
To remind readers, two olive ridley nests were found 8 miles apart that week, one near Seal Beach’s Surfside community and the second one south of lifeguard Tower 15 in Huntington Beach.
An extreme marine heat wave reported by the Los Angeles Times last April and a strong El Niño have pushed the Pacific’s water temperatures off Southern California closer to those of the turtles’ typical nesting grounds.
According to this story the Times published online Friday, the 204 olive ridley eggs that were gently transported to the Aquarium of the Pacific on Sept. 29, prior to expected hurricane-driven waves and high tides out of concern for their safety, are nearing the end of the species’ typical 45- to 60-day incubation period.
“If those eggs were developing, it should be continuing,” Dr. Lance Adams, the aquarium’s director of veterinary services, told The Times.
Cameras are keeping a watch on the eggs, which are in coolers, Adams explained. A tell-tale sign that there will be some baby turtles will be a movement in the sand that’s covering them. At that stage they are left alone in the dark so they’ll have enough energy for the job ahead: their release.
Although an ancient adage suggests we should not count our turtles before they hatch, at least one expert seems confident that there will be some baby turtles emerging from the shells found in O.C.
“I think that 85-95% of the eggs will hatch ... and a few will survive to adulthood and return to nest on a California beach in 10-15 years,” Pamela Plotkin, a retired oceanography professor at Texas A&M University, told the Times’ reporter via email.
It will be up to federal biologists to determine where and when the hatchlings will be released into the ocean, which will be a clandestine affair so as to keep them from becoming disoriented by crowds and as safe as possible.
And it looks like we could have a baby boom of olive ridleys on our hands. We learned that before long, O.C.’s (potential) hatchlings might have good company along the SoCal coast, as another nest of eggs was discovered Sunday, this time on San Buenaventura State Beach in Ventura. And experts say that there may well be more.
The Aquarium of the Pacific, on its website, has a statement that says there may be more nests found along the coast: “The public should be on the lookout for sea turtle tracks in the sand. If the public sees a sea turtle nesting, in distress, or suspects they have found a nest, they should call the 24/7 West Coast Sea Turtle Stranding Hotline: 562-506-4315. Keep a safe distance from wildlife.”
MORE NEWS
High tides damage about 114 structures in Huntington Beach
Last week’s king tides damaged approximately 114 structures in Sunset Beach and the Huntington Harbour area of Huntington Beach. In one incident, a fire was sparked after saltwater damaged a lithium-ion battery, the L.A. Times reported.
Owners of Costa Mesa sober living home win legal status after 9-year battle
A vote of the Costa Mesa City Council last week brought to an end a lengthy effort by Ohio House, a residential sober living facility that first opened in 2012, to be considered operating legally in the city.
Dana Point landmark Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel resort sold
The oceanfront Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, which is marking its 40th anniversary, has been sold for an estimated $600 million to KSL Capital Partners, a Denver-based private equity firm. It last sold in 2016 for $317.2M.
La Novia Farm project opens with its first crop in San Juan Capistrano
A grand opening was celebrated last week for the new, 2-acre La Novia Farm, located near St. Margaret’s Episcopal School in San Juan Capistrano, which recently held its first harvest. The regenerative farm grew out of a partnership between the Ecology Center, the city of San Juan Capistrano and St. Margaret’s, according to this TimesOC report.
Disney’s theme parks division lays off at least 100 employees
Walt Disney Co.’s theme parks division last Wednesday notified between 100 and 200 employees of its parks that they were being laid off, the L.A. Times reported, citing someone familiar with the matter who was not authorized to speak on it publicly.
O.C. woman who lured puppy with food to run him over was caught on video
Anaheim resident Hanh Minh Nguyen, 75, was charged Thursday with a felony count of animal crushing after video evidence showed her luring her 9-month-old puppy, “Blackey,” with kibble, then running over him in her Honda Odyssey. The puppy did not survive the incident, which took place Sept. 8 in Santa Ana.
Nanny for Irvine family allegedly caught on camera punching, shaking baby
Iara Dossantos Bomfim, 29, has been charged with child abuse after she was allegedly captured on a home camera hitting and shaking a 2-month-old baby in her care, prosecutors say. The nanny fled to her native Brazil after the family discovered her alleged acts on home surveillance video, but returned to the U.S. and was arrested by Irvine police.
Ex-Garden Grove police sergeant allegedly kidnapped, assaulted co-worker
Charles William Starnes II, 52, has pleaded not guilty to charges that he kidnapped and sexually assaulted a fellow police officer. Starnes remains in custody in lieu of paying a $5 million bail.
Sports roundup
He’s got game: Newport Beach man, 80, still king of the court
Octogenarian Ralph Deppisch, one of the originators of a half-court three-on-three basketball game that has been going for nearly 25 years at the Newport Beach Athletic Club, still enjoys being on the court. “He’s an unbelievable basketball player,” one of his admirers told the Daily Pilot. “He’s like Larry Bird with a little more finesse and grace, I would say.”
The Times’ top 25 high school football rankings as of Nov. 1
Santa Margarita (1), Mater Dei (3), Orange Lutheran (6), Mission Viejo (7) and San Clemente (9) are the Orange County high school football teams that made the top 10 of Eric Sondheimer’s top 25 list this week.
Newport Harbor football earns first outright league title since 2004
It’s been a long stretch for the Sailors, but when they routed Trabuco Hills 37-7 in the Bravo League title game last Friday night they captured the crown outright, for the first time in 22 years. The playoff brackets can be found here; Round 1 games will be played Nov. 13.
Santa Margarita wins Southern Section Division 1 girls’ golf team title
The Santa Margarita Eagles girls’ golf team shot 365 on Monday at Los Serranos Golf Club to beat Orange Lutheran by four strokes and capture the Southern Section Division 1 team title.
4 Things to do in OC
🛍️ Get some seasonal gift shopping in at the Sugar Plum Arts & Crafts Festival featuring handmade creations by more than 185 artisans. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. this Friday, Nov. 6; from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday in the Costa Mesa Building at the OC Fair & Events Center.
👏🏽 Cheer on the student performers when Orange Coast College’s Dance Department presents its annual Fall Dance Concert this Friday, Nov. 6 and Saturday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 p.m. in the Robert B. Moore Theatre. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased here.
🚶🏽 Take a free, two-hour guided walking tour of the Bolsa Chica wetlands at 10 a.m. this Sunday, Nov. 8. The two-hour tour starts at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve South parking lot on Pacific Coast Highway across from Bolsa Chica State Beach. For more details, visit this website.
👗 Check out the curated goods at the 2nd Time Around Vintage Market in Farmers Park at Anaheim’s Packing District on Saturday, Nov. 14, from noon to 4 p.m.
KEEP IN TOUCH
Thanks for reading this week’s newsletter! Please feel free to reach out with comments or questions at carol.cormaci@latimes.com.
