That nest is getting ready to hatch.

Look at em all.

Are you kidding me?

Goodness!

Each year, from late July to November, tiny
sea turtle hatchlings seemingly vanish into

the vast ocean along Florida s coast.

The sea turtle lost years includes the time
from which the turtles emerge from their nests,

crawl down and enter into the ocean, and then
they swim off shore.

Bound for destinations unknown, for decades
researchers were left to guess where the hatchlings

journeyed during their lost years.

We don t really know what they do, where
they go, in part because it s really difficult

to access those off shore waters.

That life history stage has been historically
understudied.

Before now we just called them the lost
years and kind of threw up our hands.

Depending on the species, sea turtles can
spend anywhere from two to upwards of eight years at sea.

We had to just wave goodbye to a turtle off
the beach, and then see it again several years

later when it came back into near shore waters.

But now, researchers are beginning to unravel
the mysteries of the sea turtle s lost years.

For this youngest stage of sea turtle, it s
really important for us to understand where

they are, when they re there, so we can
better understand perhaps what potential impacts

humans might have on these turtles.

Where do sea turtles go during their lost
years?

And how are new technologies helping to solve
this oceanic enigma?