This Woman Traveled the World, Met All Seven Sea Turtle Species, and Saved Them

Nicole Milson, an office administrator from London, Ontario, recently wrapped up a five-year global quest. Her mission? To meet all seven species of sea turtles. She finished in December 2025, because apparently, some people have goals beyond finding matching socks.

Milson, a 42-year-old mother of two, admits she's a "crazy turtle lady." This passion ignited on a 2020 trip to Hawaii. Before that, she hadn't seen a single sea turtle. Then, near the end of her trip, a head popped out of the water. Later, a nighttime beach stroll revealed what looked like an odd rock. Turns out, it was a green sea turtle, with about 30 more sleeping nearby.

"I felt this rush of adrenaline that transformed into awe, and then came emotional tears," Milson recalled. "It’s like stepping into a different world." Which, if you think about it, is a pretty strong reaction for a rock that turned out to be an animal.

From Casual Observer to Full-Blown Turtle Guardian

Back home, Milson dove into research, discovering all sea turtle species are either endangered or vulnerable. Her passion, naturally, escalated. She found a volunteer website focused on nesting sea turtles and thought, "This is it. This is what I need to do." Next logical step? See all seven species.

First stop: Grenada. Milson volunteered as a research assistant, monitoring leatherback sea turtles, collecting data, and doing community outreach. She saw nine leatherbacks and a tiny hatchling. While snorkeling, she even swam with a hawksbill turtle. Because when you're on a mission, you don't just see them, you swim with them.

Next, the loggerhead. The Sea Turtle Conservancy pointed her to Florida's Loggerhead Marinelife Center. She visited the center and various nesting beaches, finding the sheer number of loggerheads there "inspiring."

With three species down, Milson set her sights on the olive ridley. Another volunteer program, this time in Costa Rica. "I got to see and work with 53 Olives," she said, describing it as the hardest work of her life. All-night beach walks, cleaning duties, and even helping build a new hatchery. "I can’t believe something I’ve been a part of will be around for years to come," she marveled. Someone's legacy will be a turtle nursery. Let that sink in.

The Grand Finale: Two More to Go

Five species done, two remaining. The Kemp’s ridley was next — the most endangered, found in just one spot globally. Milson spent a week in Texas, specifically Padre Island. She visited Sea Turtle, Inc., a rehab center, where she met Hang Ten, a Kemp’s ridley with a birth defect that makes wild survival impossible. Hang Ten now educates the public, and apparently, bonded with Milson. "This was my favorite moment with a turtle yet," she said.

Only the flatback remained, found exclusively in Western and Northern Australia. Milson joined the West Pilbara Turtle Program, monitoring nesting beaches. Four days into her seven-day trip, she was getting antsy. Her fellow volunteers knew her goal. On her last outing, she returned to the beach to find them waiting, pointing to the water.

A massive, 150-pound flatback was crawling out of the water. In broad daylight. "All of my experiences had been in the dark with red flashlights," she said. "But this one... decided to come out during the day for me to catch it all." The universe, it seems, has a flair for the dramatic. She saw 14 turtles that night, just for good measure.

Milson didn't just fulfill a dream; she became a one-woman turtle-saving machine, conducting research, building hatcheries, and monitoring nests. It's the kind of dedication that makes you wonder what you did with your last five years. Probably not as much turtle-saving, let's be honest.

Her work echoes Jane Goodall's advice: "Act locally first and do something." Goodall suggests starting with something you care about in your community, like a beach cleanup. "Just do something that’ll make you feel better," Goodall emphasized. "And then you want to do more, and then you will inspire others to join in." Or, you know, travel the world to high-five all the turtles. Whatever works.