Prior to the nesting season, which occurs from late spring through summer, mating takes place offshore, just beyond the surf. The female then lumbers ashore at night in search of a suitable site for her nest. She typically seeks a spot above the high tide line on an isolated beach. She then covers the nest with sand before returning to the sea. A female usually nests every two to three years but she may lay as many as five clutches of eggs during a nesting year.
Temperatures play a key role in the development of the eggs.
Eggs incubated in cooler sand take longer to develop than those in warmer sand. After a two month incubation period, the hatchlings break out of their shells and make their way to the sea. These two-inch turtles face many hazards as they make their way across the open beach. Many fall prey to predators such as ghost crabs, gulls, and raccoons. Others may become disoriented by the lights of oceanfront developments or trapped by vehicle tracks in the sand.