Many sea turtles drown when they are caught in fishing nets and shrimp trawls. The nesting habitat of all species of sea turtles is disturbed or destroyed by humans. The nesting period is a dangerous time for turtles, eggs, and hatchlings. Humans are not the only threat. Loggerheads must contend with raccoons, the severest predators of eggs.
Loggerheads nest the furthest north of all the sea turtles, as far as North Carolina.
It is illegal in many countries to kill adult sea turtles or collect their eggs. For example, in 1966, Costa Rica outlawed the collection of Olive Ridley, Lepidochelys olivacea , eggs. Targeted to prevent the Loggerhead, Caretta caretta , and the Kemp s Ridley, Lepidochelys kempii , sea turtle from getting trapped and drowning in shrimp nets. TEDs are modifications made to shrimp nets that act like turtle escape hatches. The Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre, along with numerous other aquariums in North America, displays endangered sea turtles.