Texas Turtle 2 Microbox

Texas Birding Trail Series

Kemp's-Ridley Sea Turtle

Placed By: Silver Eagle
Date: 11/21/05
Nearest Town: Corpus Christi, TX
County: Kleberg
Terrain Difficulty: Easy (flat, 150 yards RT)
Recommended Ink: green
Status: retired (03/10/07)

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. This box contains a different stamp than the original TX Turtle that went missing, so consider it a new letterbox.

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:

From the sign, walk north back along the road away from the park for about 75 yards to a wooden pole with sign saying "Warning Buried Cable" near a wooden fence. Continue north for another 14 steps to a metal pole with sign on opposite side saying "State Maintenance Ends". The camo microbox is beneath the metal base under rocks and grass. Please re-cover 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.

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Last updated on 03/16/2007

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