How Baby Sea Turtles Find Their Way Home

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The cutest conservation story ever? Maybe.
Do it for the turtles… SUBSCRIBE! ►► bit.ly/iotbs_sub
↓ More info and sources below ↓
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Special thanks to Dr. Donna Shaver and the Padre Island National Seashore Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery for having us!
Andrés Herrera film courtesy of Dr. Thane Wibbels - University of Alabama at Birmingham
References/Learn More:
Bevan, E., et al. "Estimating the historic size and current status of the Kemp's ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) population." Ecosphere 7.3 (2016).
Johnsen, Sönke, and Kenneth J. Lohmann. "The physics and neurobiology of magnetoreception." Nature Reviews Neuroscience 6.9 (2005): 703-712.
Lohmann, Kenneth J., Nathan F. Putman, and Catherine MF Lohmann. "Geomagnetic imprinting: a unifying hypothesis of long-distance natal homing in salmon and sea turtles." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences105.49 (2008): 19096-19101.
Lohmann, Kenneth, and Catherine Lohmann. "Detection of magnetic inclination angle by sea turtles: a possible mechanism for determining latitude." Journal of Experimental Biology 194.1 (1994): 23-32.
Putman, Nathan F., et al. "Evidence for geomagnetic imprinting as a homing mechanism in Pacific salmon." Current Biology 23.4 (2013): 312-316.
Shaver, Donna J., and Charles W. Caillouet Jr. "Reintroduction of Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) sea turtle to Padre Island National Seashore, Texas and its connection to head-starting." Herpetological Conservation and Biology 10.1 (2015): 378-435.
Ueda, H. "Physiological mechanisms of imprinting and homing migration in Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp." Journal of fish biology 81.2 (2012): 543-558.
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It’s Okay To Be Smart is written and hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.D.
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[@whippetgood1806]

Bro, I can't even remember where I left my keys earlier today.

[@user-rn2yx2rq3u]

Yea me too but i dont remember were is my house

[@whyareyoustillsuscribed3722]

Yea me too but I don't remember where my school was

[@kennethlu5435]

Yea, I know right, but I can't find my dad

[@KarlRF_]

Man that sucks! ✊

[@mermzilla3697]

10 years ago I was sitting in the same chair I am sitting in today

[@andresyanez4160]

That's kind of sad, man.

[@mermzilla3697]

10 years ago i was 7 lol

[@andresyanez4160]

Lol

[@elihernandez800]

Same. I'm 28 lol

[@terraform7365]

10 years ago I was -1

[@Aeturnalis]

One of the coolest things I've ever seen was a place called "Turtle Beach" in St. Lucia. Every year, dozens to hundreds of volunteers work at the beach for a few days to protect turtle hatchlings and help them reach the ocean. They stand guard to prevent poachers and predators from killing the turtles or eggs, and sometimes even carry the babies to the water. People can be pretty awful and destructive most of the time, but there is still some good in the world.

[@nishitraj.]

This was a roller coaster of feeling good and bad about humanity

[@besmart]

"It's awesome, Jellyman. Little dudes are just eggs, we leave 'em on the beach to hatch, and then koo-koo ka-choo! They find their way back to the Big Ol' Blue." - Crush, Finding Nemo

[@MrAntieMatter]

It's Okay To Be Smart Eternally first, aren't you?

[@besmart]

+MrAntieMatter well, it IS my channel :)

[@MrAntieMatter]

It's a good thing too.

[@CharlesTheClumsy]

Ok Mr. It's Okay To Be Smart

[@CharlesTheClumsy]

It's good that it's your channel. We wouldn't have it any other way.

[@Citelq]

Sometimes I feel like humans are just being assholes to animals

[@bobby8012]

yum

[@zachanikwano]

sometimes?

[@alb9022]

More like 48/7.

[@cestlavegan5793]

Maybe because humans are just animals too? Eons of evolution have taught animals to be assholes to other animals. Extending the compassion circle to include other species is relatively new. For most of the past, feeling bad about causing harm to different organisms would have decreased fitness. Perhaps Joe will do a vid about the history of interspecies compassion some day :D

[@happymess3219]

😐 sometimes i feel like human beings are just assholes period.

[@wrzesienkuba]

Cuteness overload in this video, also I'd like to thank you for adding english subtitles to your videos, they are very helpful for me, as I'm not an english native speaker.

[@subscribetomefornoreasen1840]

Ja polak

[@capkarr]

Thank you volunteers for helping these beautiful turtles.....

[@hectorgonzalez2401]

Hope they don't go extinct

[@juhotuho10]

they prob wont

[@MikhaelAhava]

They will, most species will later become extinct.

[@Ayveh]

Same, they are super cute!

[@blitzwaffe]

I think you got your own problems with Sheriff Cheeks on you and your buddy Pinhead Larry's tails...

[@kari7403]

@@MikhaelAhava Not most species, but all species, will eventually become extinct. Ive always thought it a bit interesting how many people seem to believe that every species that goes extinct, is because of people. Yes, people have caused a lot more species to go extinct than most other species tend to do. But in reality, animals have always gone extinct, over time. One species will kill off another, or cause the demise of multiple other species. But we, as the human race, are the only species, that has gone out of their way to try and preserve other species, and to help protect them from extinction. On that note, with the way things are going now, and how conscious we have become, about the affect we have on the planet and wildlife, I think the turtles have a pretty good chance of rebuilding their population. There is a fair chance that the sea turtles wont go extinct for at least another few hundred years. No telling what the world will be like by then, or the people.

[@rzeczpospolita5948]

Exactly 10 years ago, I was in my old home, playing with toys in my room.

[@jgcooper]

too bad i can only "thumbs up" this video, and not "heart" it :(

[@KQEDDeepLook]

What a wonderful visualization of the Earth's shifting magnetic fields. Seeing the compass on its side was illuminating. And TURTLES BABY TURTLES ZOMG

[@alberteinstein2388]

LoL @deeplook no one like your comment even @its okay to be smart didn't heart this

[@StellarLimpkin]

❤️@deeplook

[@Alex._-._..-.-_.._]

Phew at first I was like "did I click on the wrong video?"

[@joemasters2270]

Bravest little troopers ever - they were just born & they have to deal w/ seagulls & other predators. They're just trying to get to the ocean

[@happymess3219]

😊 not to mention being surrounded by these big, fleshy creatures going 'awwww!' and 'they're so cute!!!' they don't know what the hell we are. no wonder they're going fast as they can. they're probably terrified.

[@blitzwaffe]

I guess you could say those poachers were "shell"fish....eh? eh? cause turtles have shells and those poachers were...nevermind I'll show myself out.

[@falnica]

They are drug addicts most of the time

[@TheRealSkeletor]

Does that make those turtle eggs poached eggs?

[@nailed2ax_126]

Dumb joke

[@cookies-pd4pv]

blitzwaffe XD

[@areesvalles1800]

Ohhhh I get Haha. Yeah that wasnt funny

[@jaydedoheny7648]

I couldn't finish watching this after I saw those people taking all those poor eggs.., EVIL!!

[@Zack-eq3ou]

How is it evil?

[@zainshiraz6910]

For real how they moved them to a different location

[@joemasters2270]

We belong to the worst species ever :(

[@zainshiraz6910]

@@joemasters2270 true, but I am part of a secret spices in the human species giving me superpower, love, speed, etc. All u have to do is like this comment and u are part of this amazing species

[@Cocokitty98]

people are invasive species lmao in the video he even mentioned that people also ate the adult turtles 4:20

[@angelaphsiao]

Seeing as exactly 10 years ago from this moment I was asleep in my childhood home, I could probably get back there no prob.

[@mothman.industries]

"Can you remember where you were exactly 10 years ago" *Struggles for five minutes trying to figure out when 10 years ago was so he can continue trying to figure out where he was*

[@conlon4332]

Yep. Me.

[@Pradeep.Poonia]

strangely, I do remember where exactly I was 10 years ago.

[@molly.dog8brooke792]

We helped some turtles out one time. There was this one who would always nest in our driveway (gravel) but the eggs would be eaten before they’d hatch (had a fox problem, maybe that was the cause). So after 2 years of checking on them, only to find that they’ve been eaten, we decided to put a bit extra gravel on them and check them every day (to make it harder to get to them and to try and deter any animals who want a quick snack). Also, the fox problem was getting better in that area. One day, my dad saw one crawling into the garage, so he called me and my mom outside and we got a cardboard box, a rock, some leaves and some water (we had absolutely no clue on how to help these little guys at first). In the end I think there was about a dozen with one dying from not being able to break out of his shell (we tried to encourage him, but he was too weak to even try by that time). We determined they were fresh water snapping turtles, and therefore, couldn’t keep one (much to the dismay of 11 year old me. But we probably shouldn’t have either way because we didn’t have the proper facilities immediately (would’ve had to make a run to the pet store)). After about an hour, they were quite strong and we threatening to nip our fingers, so we took the box down to the lake behind our house (we had a little beach), removed to rock and bowl of water, carefully tipped the box, and encouraged them to crawl out. It took about 10 minutes for the last to leave (we treated them too well I guess) and then we went inside, hoping that was the right thing to do and that they were strong enough to survive in there. We also pondered how likely it was that one of them would run into their mother- not very. No turtles returned the next year and them we moved. I’m not sure if that was the right thing to do, I hope it was though. We just wanted to save some babies from getting eaten by a fox, raccoon, snake (mainly rattlers) or birds. Hope at least one survived!

[@happymess3219]

🤗 one probably did. might even remember you. who knows? 💙💙💙

[@thatonelonelyweeaboo4209]

Hey, I live an hour away from South Padre Island! The nesting is still continuing, and everytime the turtles lay eggs, they block off that part of the beach. When it's time for the baby turtles to go into the sea, everyone gathers around and cheers for them.

[@zytrosgrass5170]

Never underestimate a few determined good people out to do something amazing. For instance, save an entire species, cuz that's what you do when your an animal lover. :)

[@allisonhazlett1879]

that was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen

[@ene4659]

Yes i can because i've stayed in the same spot in 10 years.

[@nicness6828]

your mom's basement?

[@Kalossupremacy3356]

I mean the solar system itself is rotating around the universe so technically no you been moving

[@u-thix2436]

@@Kalossupremacy3356 This is oddly uplifting

[@jamee215]

Awwww look how CUTE they are 😂👍🏻

[@maxcsquared6083]

Happens to be my birthday today... so I actually do remember exactly where I was when I turned 6 years old.

[@luvw.6038]

Life finds a way back to their home

[@router_BasedUser]

0:30 Actually, I know where I was 10 years ago. Not going to say it for Internet reasons.

[@MaxArceus]

exactly 10 years ago I was about 2 meters from where I am now. So yeah, I can find my way back to there.

[@jesuschrist3069]

where ever there is a turtle i am there in spirit giving it a thumbs up for its good work

[@papersplease1514]

I am 10 and he said remember where I was 10 years ago Me: my moms stomach

[@someoneelse3335]

I could remember where I was 10 years ago at this exact date as it's my birthday lol

[@McLegg]

i love turtles

[@alulurajan]

After that😂

[@McLegg]

@@alulurajan It's been four years. Excuse past me's lack of brain, I have not improved.

[@alulurajan]

@@McLegg 😅😂

[@dhairyapandya140]

@@McLegg I like humans they look so cute when they give babies

[@lunasuuli484]

Could I find my way back to the place I was ten years ago? Yes. Yes I can. It's literally just across town.

[@Naiadryade]

I got home and clicked this SO FAST. Was not disappointed. First line was right though--this episode IS about something very important!

[@H0neyBees]

10 years ago in my home playing dollies.

[@rchuso]

Love the Bugs Bunny reference at 2:44

[@hettyscetty9785]

That is the second cutest thing I have seen today, the first being a show on channel 4 about puppies. Although I did enjoy the references to the Ninja Turtles, the heroes in a half shell rock! Sea turtles deserve their population to be back up to a sufficient level, they are awesome for laying in the same beaches every year. This date 10 years ago I was probably in my bed in the same house that I am in right now and considering I was 9 years old, probably still awake at that point.

[@andrew24601]

Seeing as it's almost 1AM on not a holiday, and I was ten at the time, I can almost guarantee I was in this exact same spot ten years ago. My bed. Same room, same house.

[@codymondeel7767]

While I can’t even remember my own aunt after 10 months

[@mksabourinable]

10yrs ago I would have been at home this time of year and time of day... I can get to my mother's house lol

[@dulceg928]

10 years ago I was in 5th grade and in Mr. Montgomery's class going through my spelling list for the week. BAM.

[@pagedouglas16]

that's so cool, I did a project on them in high school. Never knew how they find their way back. who knew?

[@tomarty2103]

10 years ago at this exact day and time, I was exactly where I am right now: in bed ^_^

[@thenoone]

Ten years ago I wasn't even alive.

[@Oi-wq3mp]

10 years ago i was 5 and in the same house so yeah I can find my way back to the same place

[@elihernandez800]

Bro 10 years ago I was laying in this same bed in this same beat up apartment. So yeah, I can find my way because I'm already here

[@juhotuho10]

yes, i was a my house 10 years ago sleeping at the moment, i can find the spot i slept in 10 years ago pretty easily :D

[@seeranos]

We humans devote far less of our mental capacity to pathfinding since the invention of maps, and in modern America even less now that 1) nearly everything we need is available by delivery, 2) most destinations are reached through driving or public transport and 3) navigators are available in almost every pathfinding opportunity. I wonder then if we would have closer to a turtle's level of memory in the times before maps.

[@CutiePunkSaya]

Awesome, had no idea this video would mention Sea Turtle Inc. I love going there and visiting their rehabilitation center. Its amazing, they also allow the public to see the baby sea turtles nesting sites when they hatch and make their way into the ocean.

[@westonbuhler5592]

A more interesting question is how do they time it so perfectly to arrive within 48 hrs or less of each other

[@coolchouzhao]

I'm speechless, except for this: :D

[@blue_jai2790]

SEA TURTLES ARE SO CUTE AHHHH

[@vinnie9431]

I LOVE sea turtles I researched them in second and third grade, And I'm still researching them!

[@melmelodies8730]

Him: Where were you 10 years ago? Me: I don't know, I was 4

[@melmelodies8730]

I meant 3 sorry

[@conlon4332]

They can't remember where they were any given random day, they remember a very important specific day. I could tell you where I was on my birthday for example... although not 10 years ago, as I was too young to have a good memory of it. I'd have to ask my mum.

[@annalee3670]

Miss Lee's 3rd grade class loved learning about sea turtles and their instincts! "They're so cute" !

[@kazuma7069]

10 years ago i was in my mother's room watching tv with her

[@brfisher1123]

Looks like Joe just hit the 7 digit number (million) subscriber milestone!

[@cyberthegreat4033]

Thanks bro this video made me smile the whole way through!!!!

[@2nd3rd1st]

Even when he talked about their near-extinction and the oil spill? You monster...

[@adamemac]

Damn, Mother Nature.. you crazy!!

[@eevee3239]

This video is the cutest video in the channel in my opinion! XD

[@zanesc01]

congrats on a million subscribers!

[@CharlesTheClumsy]

Not yeeeet.

[@juliandeleon6107]

Zani Not yet, pretty close tho

[@marygodoy6020]

Quiero ver algo de Halloween

[@aurelia8028]

damn it. now i keep refreshing the page to see if the number rises XD

[@arshakakbar1062]

haha people from 4 years ago, Now he has about 3.7 million subscribers

[@levibuckley976]

Just found this channel. Really enjoying it.

[@computergeek9319]

Yay they mention Padre Island!

[@amphicyon4359]

Every time you said Ridley, a giant purple dragon comes to mind

[@dena180]

Actually i'm sitting where i was 10 years ago right this moment. I was 10, and i was (99% sure) asleep on my bed. And now I'm sitting on the same bed watching this.

[@ShuvechhaChakraborty]

Great going on field science! First time I heard about this geomagnetic imprinting. Cheers to life!

[@haandrew3319]

they're soooooooo adorable!

[@panchatantrataleswithneera3494]

00:23 Yes, I was in my mom's womb I stayed there for 2 years and 2 days before popping out in 2011

[@kaileyb6967]

Ten years ago I was one, I was probably at home crying

[@robinsparrow1618]

I've been to SOUTH Padre Island. Didn't realize there was a Padre Island also.

[@besmart]

LOL South Padre Island is just the south end of Padre Island :) This turtle program is on the north end, near Corpus Christi

[@robinsparrow1618]

Ah, I see.

[@WireForker]

It's Okay To Be Smart There's a larger a Kemps Ridley turtle rescue and release center in South Padre, just fyi. I've volunteered there

[@besmart]

+Josiah Sandefur also, RIP Turtle Lady of SPI

[@sadabetas]

I'm surprised that these turtles can survive the annual influx of spring breakers to the island.

[@noahmccann4438]

What is the purpose of the flags some of the volunteers are holding in the water? I thought they might be for visually orienting the turtles, but it seems like the ocean would be enough of a visual. My other thought was that they act like scarecrows for birds that might harm the turtles?

[@besmart]

Yep, those are to scare away the seagulls who would like to make snacks out of the baby turtles

[@2nd3rd1st]

They are starving seagulls? It's their natural right to eat some of those turtles.

[@Ayveh]

Aww Protecting the turtle :)

[@srikrishnabhat6793]

Not when its done in a manner that they become extinct.

[@aurelia8028]

well i don't think that seagulls are endangered like the turtles are, so until the turtle have amassed a large enough population, they'll probably keep standing their with the flags. and besides, there are hundreds of other places they can get food. like stealing food from humans who are eating on the beach...

[@hw7chw7c]

I'm 9 so I was I my mother's "you know where"

[@Farazzz]

Up her ass?

[@elihernandez800]

Where? I'm 28. Idk where babies come from.

[@isimply2179]

In their womb not ass

[@Damnnthatscrazy]

@@Kunal20000 no you get them at Walmart.

[@murdvre]

@@Damnnthatscrazy cheaper if you order them

[@mastertofu]

"Could find where you were 10 years ago. Where you were that exact day?" Me: I'm right here, in my brother's room. I'm 13 and this is where I was, when looking at him as a few days old baby.

[@GotEmAll1337]

w00t! National Park Service, represent!

[@1karl159]

Congrats on almost 1 mil subs!

[@0nedirecti0n4ever]

The turtle at the end got totally wiped out by that wave XD

[@agnepaliunyte4444]

So cute

[@AngloFrancoDane]

Love sea turtles, I have one tattooed on my calf.

[@theodorebear6714]

I love those little swim-dogs. I hope they do well.

[@ntn7607]

These turtles know se wae

[@gragaloth6237]

This = Deep Look episode version 2. lol, luv ur vids :D

[@edwardtimothy3581]

Love u scientist 🥺🥺🥺🥺. Respect all of your effort

[@ankitpathak2804]

first eggs, then very cute babies and a few years cute. wow but how

[@RWMoortgat]

Uplifting and informative! Great video :)

[@jasonsilver5339]

Watching at 1:30 am on a weekday, so it would be safe to assume I'd be in bed sleeping. So go back 10 years I'd be living in my parent's house. So yeah would be pretty easy to find my way back.

[@satokohitomi1971]

Awwww soo cute

[@hania.sztuka]

They are so cute! :3

[@simplyshivani7730]

I really like your channel! Its an amazing way of widening my knowledge..

[@kapotatoe3190]

There all so cute

[@jugheadzjuice4313]

I love baby turtles they are so cute 🥰

[@bearlyrandom4462]

So what you are saying is, even turtles know the world if round.

[@ally7824]

So cute!!!!!

[@scoobygms210]

Hey I've been to padre island a bunch of times I didn't know this awesome

[@kartman568]

I could find my way back to my middle school parking lot.

[@DrawCuriosity]

Although this is a case of parallel creation, a couple of weeks ago I made a video on this topic with Virginia Schutte. ;) Gorgeous and adorable turtle footage Joe! :)

[@besmart]

Thanks for pointing me to your video! It's really great. I'm gonna share it on Twitter!

[@DrawCuriosity]

Ahhh thank you!! :) It was lots of fun to put together, and being able to watch the science cute turtles doing their thing is always time well spent! By the way - early congratulations on the almost million subscribers! ;)

[@she_be_rosie2419]

Draw Curiosity & It's okay to be smart, love you guys

[@246cuevas]

Draw Curiosity my big brother says my poo goes to the ocean, so now I poo in the yard.

[@DrawCuriosity]

So are you! :) I think it's good taste in Science KZbin :p

[@veganchaatparty]

Super Superb!! Super Superb!! Super Superb!! Thanks for sharing!

[@yeahminecraft1627]

you guys just reached 1 million subs! congratulations!

[@xenenlighten7970]

So.Cute.