When a tropical cyclone approaches, sea turtles are often among the first animals people think about. Their nests lie beneath the sand, their breeding season overlaps with storm season, and powerful waves can reshape the beaches where they lay their eggs.
But turtles are not the only coastal animals facing that threat. In July 2026, tropical cyclone Bertha swept across the US Gulf Coast and affected nesting areas on Pensacola Beach, where Least Terns, the world’s smallest terns, and Black Skimmers were raising their young.
