Endangered sea turtles nest on Galveston Beach. We joined a volunteer who protects them.

The sixth Portuguese Man o’War spotted on Jo Monday’s patrol down Galveston Beach on Wednesday is squished and dead. It’s gross, but she is not concerned. Her aim, like most weeks in the spring, is searching for signs of the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle – the most endangered species of sea turtle in the world.

From April to July, Monday, along with around 300 volunteers, patrol Galveston Beach on utility terrain vehicles and on foot. The 76-year-old retiree – decked with her Texas master naturalist badge and UTV helmet – is on the lookout for any sea turtles or, more likely, sea turtle tracks that could lead her to a nesting site.

She pulls over again after seeing some disturbance in the sand. But it’s a false alarm.

“You always have to be careful,” Monday said, putting the UTV back into drive. “Even if you aren’t sure, you should check it out because you don’t want to miss anything.”

If Monday did find one, she’d call it into the Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research based at Texas A&M University in Galveston – where Monday and the others volunteer. The eggs would then be taken to Padre Island National Seashore near Corpus Christi to hatch and be released.

Monday’s route today is three miles, starting at 7 a.m. The weather – cloudy and damp with few people walking the beach – is perfect for the turtles.

Still, Monday is fully prepared to not find a single one.

An endangered species on the Texas coast

The Kemp’s ridley sea turtle faces numerous threats during its nesting season in late spring and early summer. Beach driving, predators, rising tides, trash and development leave the turtles and their nests in danger of being crushed, drowned or suffocated on plastic. Experts and state wildlife officials are urging residents who use the beaches in Galveston and elsewhere to practice caution and call in turtle eggs when sighted.

Turtle patrols tour the beaches nearly every day to save what turtles can be found. Galveston Beach is not safe for the turtles to hatch, and the safest space for them is at a protected lab. Only then, experts say, can the turtles survive and save the population.

For Monday, the patrol also comes with educating the public. The UTV is labeled “Sea Turtle Patrol” in big white letters, causing people to stop and ask questions.

One woman walking the beach waves Monday down.

“I’ve been keeping an eye out every day,” she said. “If I see anything, I’m letting you know.”

Johnson, 58, also hasn’t found any turtle tracks.

A little ways from Johnson, another beach-goer waves down Monday. He’s interested in helping out on the beach after seeing the logo on the UTV.

Monday parks and gets out to give the man some materials for volunteering with the Gulf Center. Interest is common, Monday said, but often too late. Training already occurred for new volunteers, so interested parties will probably have to wait until next year.

Monday is always excited about it, though. The more people who can help, the better chances of not missing a single turtle nest. She tells most people that they can help out by just being aware, calling in a spotted turtle or eggs and picking up trash.

Toward the end of the ride, Monday notices a man picking up some fishing line to dump in the trash. She slams on her breaks and calls out , ‘Thank you!’ The man, startled, walks over.

“This matters,” she tells him.  “What you do matters.”