We’re always thrilled to discover fresh loggerhead turtle tracks, as we did in June  2012. Here, mama turtle has returned to the very same beach where she herself hatched (her “natal” beach at Botany Bay, near Folly Beach, South Carolina) to lay her eggs—up to 120 of them.

She came at night, then returned to the sea. The rear flipper marks appear staggered, or alternating, across the track and resemble “commas” in the sand. Read more about sea turtle tracks here and loggerheads here.

Incubation temperature determines the hatchlings’ sex (warmer temps result in females; cooler, mostly males.) Check out what happens 60 days later! We love this youtube video, below—some nice folks on Botany Bay watching the little fellows (?) make mini fresh tracks of their own.

See other fresh takes on Ailsa’s weekly travel theme.