How Do Loggerhead Sea Turtles Know Where to Migrate?
Loggerhead Sea Turtles Loggerhead sea turtles, so named because of their relatively large heads, spend more than 90 percent of their lives in water. From the time they are hatchlings, these creatures migrate thousands of miles crossing to the eastern side of the Atlantic Ocean. When it is time to mate and nest, both male and female loggerheads leave their feeding grounds and migrate to their nesting beach on the North American coast. This periodic migration will continue throughout their lives. Independent Migrators Loggerhead turtles are very independent creatures. A baby sea turtle enters the ocean soon after birth, referred to as offshore migration, then completes a round-trip across the Atlantic by itself, approximately a 10 to 15 year, 8,000-mile migratory trek. The University of North Carolina refers to the period when the young turtles enter the ocean as the “frenzy” because the hatchlings are continuously active and strongly motivated to swim. This flurry helps them to survive
