What started as an ordinary morning on the beach quickly turned into a rescue
For wildlife photographer Ben Hicks, mornings often begin near the ocean.
Based in North Palm Beach, Florida, Hicks regularly visits the shoreline early in the day to photograph marine life and watch for activity along the sand.
But during one recent outing, something unusual caught his attention before he could focus on taking pictures.
At the bottom of a deep sandy pit, a tiny creature was moving around.
A Baby Sea Turtle Was Stuck
Hicks walked closer and discovered a sea turtle hatchling trapped inside the hole.
The little turtle had apparently fallen in while making his way toward the ocean and was unable to climb the steep sandy walls.
Hicks had spotted him at around 7 a.m. while walking his usual route and searching the beach for wildlife.
Fortunately, he had encountered similar situations before and already knew how to respond.
He Came Up With A Simple Solution
Hicks didn’t want to simply carry the turtle to the water.
Instead, he wanted the hatchling to continue the journey using his own instincts.
So he carefully reshaped part of the hole, creating a sandy ramp that led upward and pointed toward the ocean.
Then he stepped away and gave the turtle space.
The Hatchling Had To Find His Own Way
At first, the tiny turtle struggled.
He moved around the bottom of the pit, repeatedly circling as he searched for an escape.
For a few te