Texas Turtle Letterbox

Texas Birding Trail Series

Kemp's-Ridley Sea Turtle

Placed By: Silver Eagle
Date: 10/25/03
Nearest Town: Corpus Christi, Tx.
County: Kleberg
Terrain Difficulty: Easy (flat, 25 yards RT)
Status: retired (11/25/05

THIS LETTERBOX IS NOT ON NATIONAL PARK LAND, SO PLEASE DON'T CONFISCATE IT.

Five of the world's seven sea turtle species are found in the Gulf of Mexico: leatherback, hawksbill, green, loggerhead and Kemp's Ridley. These magnificent marine animals, once abundant in the oceans, have declined during the last century and each species is now classified as either threatened or endangered. Over at least the past 60 years, some sea turtles have nested on South Texas beaches, mainly Padre Island National Seashore, near where this letterbox nests. From late March through July, National Park Service and U.S. Geological Survey employees and volunteers search the beaches of North Padre Island for nesting sea turtles and their eggs, which are collected for future release. The National Seashore is also part of the Mustang Island Loop described on the Central Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail map. It is a great place for viewing gulls, terns and shorebirds all year and migratory birds during spring and fall, not to mention raptors on power poles along Park Road 22. So come enjoy great beaches, birding and letterbox turtling any time of the year.

Directions:

Corpus Christi is about 220 miles southwest of Houston via Hwy 59, Hwy 77 and I 37. Head East through the city on South Padre Island Drive (Highway 358). After crossing the JFK Causeway and the bridge onto North Padre Island, continue about 10 miles south on Park Road 22 to the entrance of Padre Island National Seashore. Park at the entrance sign before entering the park.

Clues:

Walk to the sign and put your back against the NPS arrowhead part of the sign facing away from the park. Walk 25 steps to the first of 3 white stakes at the edge of the parking area. One step beyond the stake, buried under the white rocks next to the grass area is the letterbox. Please re-bury well.

NOTE: Always take adequate precautions (such as prodding with a stick and/or wearing gloves) before reaching into dark crevasses and holes in the wild. Before you set out read the waiver of responsibility and disclaimer.

Return to Silver Eagle's Texas Birding Trail Letterbox Series Page

Return to Silver Eagle's Texas Letterboxes Page

Return to Silver Eagle's Letterboxing Aerie

Last updated on 03/16/2007

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1