Aquatic Wildlife in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico

Aquatic Wildlife in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico

by Realty Executives Mexico

More sea turtles and nests have been found in the area—stressing the regional importance for this group of very charismatic creatures. Ever since the legacy of “Peñasquita”—the first hawksbill turtle adorned with a satellite transmitter to track information concerning her migratory route and nesting grounds, released into the Eastern Pacific on October 24, 2008—more turtles and nests have been found in Puerto Peñasco.

Paloma Valdivia, education coordinator of the Intercultural Center of Desert and Oceans (CEDO), reported via press release that staff from Playa Encanto came across a young olive ridley turtle with a shell measuring just 30 centimeters in length. Unfortunately, this turtle was quite sick and later died. Shortly thereafter a tourist came across a young black sea turtle near Playa de Oro. Furthermore, she added, just recently a hawksbill turtle was found at Playa Miramar, which was also just a young sample! This turtle is currently recuperating from a slight illness at the CETMAR Aquarium and will be released around the same place where it was found.

The CEDO official added that, generally, the Northern Gulf of California is feeding grounds for sea turtles, although it is known that some species occasionally nest in Puerto Peñasco. “In fact, although no nest had been fully completed given the extreme climate conditions of the region, during the last three years there have been reports of nesting along different beaches,” she explained.

Nevertheless, this year the sea turtle nests have been in luck! Two nests of the olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), and one of the black sea turtle (Chelonia mydas agassizii), reported at Playa Encanto and Playa Miramar, respectively, hatched young ones successfully. Coincidentally, the young turtles were born on precisely the same day of Peñasquita's release.

Valdivia indicated that up to now, the importance of the Northern Gulf of California for young sea turtles had not received much reporting, which is a very important point within conservation efforts of organizations on a global level.

She said that while in Puerto Peñasco, it is necessary to take care of the beaches where nests have been detected; it is much more important to protect the feeding grounds at sea, as turtles spend many years there and their reproductive success does not only depend on the environmental health of the site where they are born but rather the sites where they grow.

“We all can contribute to saving the sea turtles. If you want to help, pick up trash found on the beach, report any fishing or eating of sea turtles to the proper authorities (PROFEPA in Mexico), and let CEDO know if you find a nest or a sea turtle on the beach. Only we can prevent their extinction,” stressed the press release.

Jelly fish stings.... We can handle it

One of the inconvenience of being close to a very clean beach like Rocky Point is the fauna that you can found in a very uncomfortable way. Jellyfish and strings are always around the Sea of Cortez when water is too warm. Remember than the jellyfish even when they lie death on the sand of the beach are still poisonous. If for any reason, your skin touch one of their tentacles, you will feel like a burn and a rush.

Here are the steps to make sure your jellyfish sting stops hurting.

Step 1

The first step, which is the most important is to watch out for jellyfish. In the pacific ocean, where clouds of jellyfish rule, the beaches have seasons when the jellyfish wash up on shore. Ask the locals when this is and be considerably careful when you are around that time of year.
.
Step 2

When you are stung by a jellyfish, don't allow yourself the urge to immediately start itching it. While you won't feel pain at first (it will be itching) the reason you don't want to itch it is the pain will spread as itching releases the venom further.

Step 3

Immediately step into the ocean water or use vinegar to wash off the wound where you were stung by a jellyfish. This will allow the venom to be immediately be released and not further you uncomfortable feeling. Whatever you do, don't use freshwater as this will further release the venom. If you want to be extra carefull, carry a small bottle of WINDEX (yes!!! the one you use to clean the windows) and use it in case of a stung by a jellyfish.

Step 4

Take some asprin or ibuprophin if you in pain. Usually jellyfish stings hurt so you will need to control that pain. However, you may find that two asprin takes the edge off and your day continues.

Step 5

See a doctor immediately if the swelling becomes considerably concerning. While you might have sliht swelling, this should go down once the venom is washed away leaving a small hole where the tentacle was attached (nothing too noticable, but you can tell.)

Jelly Fish in Rocky Point are the well known worldwide "Portuguese man of war" and
not from deadly species, only from the uncomfortable ones.