The following is a step by step behavioral process that nesting sea turtles typically follow. Generally, female sea turtles will swim in towards shore during the late afternoon or early evening just prior to sunset. At some point after nightfall, the nesting turtles will emerge from the ocean and crawl up the beach to find a suitable nesting site. It is possible to identify the species of the turtle that emerged by the tracks left in the sand. They exhibit alternating right and left flipper tracks and no tail marks.
Leatherback tracks are the widest of all species' tracks.
Tracks will also indicate the direction in which the turtle was traveling. Examining where the turtle pushed the sand back in an effort to move herself forward will aid in determining the direction that the turtle was traveling in. Determining the direction that the turtle was moving helps identify where she may have nested. With old tracks, direction may be difficult to determine. Once a nesting site has been chosen, the female will prepare the area by clearing the sand and brush away with all four flippers.