SAN MARCOS - A San Marcos nonprofit aims to protect sea turtle nests on the Texas coast using some pretty unorthodox methodology.

K9's 4 Conservation is composed of a group of dogs and their trainer, and will depart for the Texas coast next summer to sniff out and locate sea turtle nests.

The traditional method of probing the sand by hand can take conservationists hours and days.

"The dogs can come out and cover that same amount of area with scent in 15 or 20 minutes," K9 trainer Chris Fritz said. "So, if we find a nest that wasn't going to be found before then that's one adult turtle that's going to be here in 15 years that’s going to be mating or laying eggs."

The dog's job is to pick up the scent and identify the location of the nests. Fritz's German Shepherds Saul and Dasha are currently being trained using the sand from different sea turtle species. 

"If I mess up with one, maybe I didn't mess up with the other. So if I train two at the same time, maybe I'll cover my bases," Fritz said.

Fritz expects to add two or three more dogs to the team before next summer.

"We're scheduled to work with Sea Turtles, Inc. at South Padre next summer, the National Sea Shore on North Padre and the University of Texas Marine Science Institute on Mustang and San Jose Islands. So we're going to have 155 miles of beach," Fritz said.

The dogs' work will make a difference finding one nest at a time

"That's how the species is saved is just these little bits at a time and we're trying to do what we can to try and help out with that."

Once training is finished, these pups will head out to the coastline at the start of nesting season in April or May of next year.