A massive adult female Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, one of the world’s rarest and most endangered species, washed ashore in critical condition near Galveston on March 7, 2026, prompting an urgent rescue by wildlife experts who found her lethargic and heavily encrusted with marine organisms.

The turtle was discovered near Beach Pocket Park #3 by a bystander who alerted the Texas statewide sea turtle hotline. Responders from the Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research (GCSTR) arrived to find the animal barely moving, her shell and body weighed down by epibionts—barnacles, algae, and sediment—that had accumulated over time. Such heavy fouling is a telltale sign of prolonged weakness or illness in sea turtles, as healthy individuals swim actively enough to prevent excessive colonization.

“We are hopeful for her recuperation and eventual release back into the Gulf,” GCSTR officials stated in a social media update following the rescue. The turtle was transported to the Houston Zoo’s sea turtle rehabilitation facility, where veterinarians began immediate treatment to remove the encrustations, address underlying health issues, and stabilize her condition.

The Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) is the smallest sea turtle species and the most critically endangered, listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and recognized as Texas’ official state sea turtle. Adults typically weigh 80-100 pounds with a shell length of about 2 feet, though this female was described as “massive,” suggesting a particularly large specimen. The species nests primarily on beaches in Mexico’s Gulf coast, with a smaller but growing nesting population on Texas’ Padre Island National Seashore—the only major U.S. nesting site.

Heavy epibiont growth on the stranded turtle indicated she had likely been struggling for weeks or longer. Barnacles and algae attach to slower-moving or debilitated turtles, adding drag, reducing mobility, and sometimes causing secondary infections or wounds. The fouling also made her appear almost “furry” or green in some reports, puzzling beachgoers who first spotted her.

The rescue highlights ongoing conservation challenges for Kemp’s ridleys. Once on the brink of extinction in the mid-20th century due to overharvesting of eggs, shrimp trawling bycatch, and habitat loss, the species saw dramatic recovery through protections like turtle excluder devices (TEDs) on nets and beach patrols. Nesting numbers surged from fewer than 300 nests in the 1980s to tens of thousands annually in recent years, though threats persist from climate change, pollution, oil spills, and vessel strikes.

This incident coincides with broader efforts to bolster the population. Just days before the Galveston stranding, 27 rehabilitated Kemp’s ridleys were released back into the Gulf from a Mississippi facility, underscoring the role of regional rehab centers in supporting wild recovery. The Houston Zoo’s program, a key partner in Texas strandings, provides specialized care including antibiotics, fluids, nutritional support, and gradual reconditioning before release.

Experts stress that strandings like this one are not uncommon during cold-stunned seasons or periods of stress, though the heavy encrustation made this case particularly severe. Responders emphasize public reporting through hotlines as crucial—early intervention often determines survival odds.

The turtle’s prognosis remains guarded but optimistic. Veterinarians continue monitoring her response to treatment, with plans for eventual release if she regains strength and health. Such rehabilitations have high success rates when animals reach care quickly, offering hope for her return to Gulf waters where she can contribute to the nesting population.

The event serves as a reminder of the fragility of marine species and the importance of conservation networks. Organizations like GCSTR, NOAA Fisheries, and state wildlife agencies rely on public awareness and reporting to protect Kemp’s ridleys and other sea turtles. Beachgoers are urged to keep distance from stranded animals, avoid touching or disturbing them, and call professionals immediately.

As rehabilitation progresses, updates from the Houston Zoo and GCSTR will track her journey, potentially inspiring renewed support for sea turtle protection amid ongoing environmental pressures in the Gulf.

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Egg prices have declined rapidly over the last year as the market normalizes following a significant avian flu outbreak that began in 2022, though the threat of a resurgence in the virus could lead to volatility later this year.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on Wednesday reported the consumer price index (CPI) for February, which showed egg prices declined by 3.8% in the month and are down 42.1% from a year ago. By contrast, headline CPI inflation was 2.4% higher than it was a year ago.

Bernt Nelson, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, told FOX Business that the U.S. egg industry has been on a “rollercoaster of avian influenza detection” since 2022, with detections ranging from about 20 million birds affected to nearly zero birds, depending on the time of year.

“Because of this, we’ve had times when the laying flock was damaged enough to really drive prices higher,” Nelson said. He added that a dozen eggs cost around $4.14 in December 2024 and climbed to a high of $6.22 a dozen in March 2025 – but those have since declined to about $2.50 a dozen, according to data from the BLS and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Economic Research Service.

FEBRUARY INFLATION BREAKDOWN: WHERE ARE PRICES RISING AND FALLING THE FASTEST?

Egg prices have been on a roller-coaster in recent years amid supply disruptions due to an avian flu outbreak. (Emily Elconin/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Nelson added that as of December 2025, egg prices were about 12% below the five-year average as the market recovered from the avian flu-related price shocks. The stabilization of the market comes as the USDA has stepped up detection activities to help mitigate outbreaks.

“USDA has made some dramatic improvements in the last year,” he explained, noting that the agency offers a wildlife assessment that looks for ways wild birds may infiltrate an egg farm as well as a domestic assessment that considers ways to promote agricultural hygiene such as undertaking a foot bath before entering an egg layer house.

“USDA offers these free of charge and then it becomes up to the egg farmer to implement the changes that they need to help secure their farm,” Nelson said, adding that it has “dramatically improved the ability to keep supplies in the pipeline.”

INFLATION HELD STEADY IN FEBRUARY AND REMAINED ABOVE THE FED’S TARGET

Egg prices have declined rapidly over the last year as the supply chain normalized from the avian flu outbreak. (I RYU/VCG via Getty Images)

In the last six months, the slowdown in avian flu cases has allowed production to recover and increase, bringing prices below the level they were at before the larger outbreak began. 

However, the USDA’s wildlife monitoring has found a very high viral load in wild migratory birds passing through all four of the flyways that cross the U.S. from south to north in recent months, which can impact the egg, turkey and broiler industries.

Nelson noted that in the last 30 days there have been about 14 million birds affected, which was higher than some of the lower caseload months during the supply chain normalization. 

HOW THE IRAN WAR COULD HIT AMERICANS’ GROCERY BILLS

Egg prices remain susceptible to volatility as farmers continue to manage avian flu detections. (Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images)

He said there have been about four million detections in March overall, mostly attributed to two relatively large avian flu detections announced this week that covered four million birds at egg production facilities. 

“What that demonstrates is that you can have almost no detections going on, it can be just a really low, smooth sailing situation, and all of a sudden you can have a detection at one of these bigger farms and when that detection it can take a lot of layers out of the pipeline very quickly,” Nelson said.

“We’re not seeing the impacts of that supply change yet, but if we see avian influenza continue to affect houses like that where you’re seeing a high number of birds affected month to month, it can very well push prices back up,” he added.

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Nelson said that when egg farmers’ flocks are impacted by avian flu it can take an emotional toll on the farmers as well as cause financial harm, as USDA indemnity programs cover things like cleanup costs but doesn’t cover the production stoppage that can last up to six months.

The bank’s North Haven private-income fund told investors Wednesday it received quarterly requests making up around 10.9% of the fund’s $7.6 billion in assets, but would stick to a 5% limit. The fund, which is structured as a non-tradable business development company, runs a tender offer every quarter.

Most investors have scant exposure to oil and gas stocks, which act as insurance in case of an energy crisis. In my latest Markets A.M. newsletter, I look at whether it would have been worth holding more energy shares, just in case.