Loggerhead turtles are nesting in record numbers in Georgia and the Carolinas
Rare and majestic giant loggerhead sea turtles are laying eggs in record numbers on beaches across the southeast this year. Loggerheads nest from May through August, crawling onshore to bury their eggs along the Atlantic coast. In 2016, loggerheads laid nests in record numbers but this year, but according to the Associated Press, those records have already fallen in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
Scientists and volunteers have recorded over 12,200 nests left by loggerheads this egg-laying season. Back in 2016 when the previous record was set, the turtles produced 11,321 nests.
Loggerhead turtles are protected under the Endangered Species Act. Scientists think the uptick in egg laying can be traced back to conservation efforts that began over 30 years ago.
Yosemite settles lawsuit, familiar names of park landmarks restored
A battle that has lasted for years is finally settled, and the names of some familiar hotels and other facilities in Yosemite National Park will return to what they once were.
Delaware North is a private company that held the contract to run the lodges and concessions at Yosemite National Park. They believed they held the right to change the names of the buildings they operated, renaming iconic Yosemite landmarks like Curry Village to Half Dome Village, the Ahwahnee to Majestic Yosemite Hotel, and the Wawona Hotel to Big Trees Lodge.
In 2016, the National Park Service took Delaware North to court over the name changes and announced this week that the lawsuit was settled. According to the agreement, the trademarks will be transferred to the new concession vendor, Aramark, and then back to the National Park Service if and when the contract with Aramark expires. It’s not yet clear when the former names will be reinstated.
Looking for a hot and balmy vacation spot? Head to Alaska.
At the beginning of July, the city of Anchorage, Alaska hit 90 degrees F for the first time in recorded history, smashing the previous high temperature of 85 degrees F set in June 1969. The city also experienced its hottest June on record, with an average temperature of 60.5 degrees, 5.3 degrees higher than normal. NPR reports that it was the sixteenth consecutive month that Anchorage experienced higher than normal temperatures.
On July 4th, several cities in Alaska matched or beat their all-time heat records. Kenai saw a record high of 89 degrees, Palmer tied their heat record at 88 degrees and King Salmon, Alaska set an all-time high of 89 degrees.
