Outer Banks Times

The sea turtle excitement on the coast of North Carolina is bigger than ever this year. More nests have been watched than ever before, with even more turtle eggs being hatched.

Great news out of Cape Hatteras National Seashore on this year's sea turtle nesting season! Within the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, five species of sea turtles can be encountered: the leatherback, the rarely seen hawksbill, Kemp's ridley, loggerhead, and green turtles, according to U.S. National Park Services. Although all five species are known to inhabit Seashore waters throughout the year, it is the female loggerhead and green turtles—and occasionally leatherback and Kemp's ridley turtles—that grace these shores with their nesting activity. These beaches represent the northernmost extent of their nesting grounds. In a remarkable development, hawksbill turtles were first documented nesting on Cape Hatteras in 2015, with a single female laying two nests.

The official nonprofit partner of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Outer Banks Forever, has recently unveiled their annual "Sea Turtle Scoop" report, revealing a remarkable tally of over 25,000 sea turtle hatchlings recorded in the past year, originating from a total of 378 nests, according to Island Free Press article. Among these nests, an overwhelming 86% belonged to Loggerhead sea turtles, while Green sea turtles accounted for 50 nests. The report also noted the presence of three rare Kemp's Ridley sea turtle nests and one rare Leatherback sea turtle nest. An exciting highlight of 2023 was the discovery of a Leatherback sea turtle nest on Ocracoke Island, marking the first occurrence in 11 years. This extraordinary nest, identified in June, successfully hatched in late August, with 19 baby sea turtles embarking on their journey to the ocean.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore accounted for 19% of all the sea turtle nests within the state, according to Coastal Review article. Throughout the year, the dedicated park staff vigilantly tracked 378 sea turtle nests, with 86% of them being loggerheads, along with 50 green sea turtle nests, three Kemp's ridleys, and a solitary leatherback nest. The overall count of eggs amounted to 39,085, averaging 119 eggs per nest, and an average incubation period of 56 days. Outer Banks Forever's dedicated supporters played an integral role by adopting 283 nests this year through the nonprofit's "Adopt A Sea Turtle Nest" initiative, raising a substantial $28,987 to contribute to essential projects and programs at Cape Hatteras.

The sea turtle season at Outer Banks in 2023 has been a great success, with an abundance of nests and hatchlings. The Cape Hatteras National Seashore has seen nesting activity from five different species of sea turtles, including the rare hawksbill and Kemp's ridley turtles. The majority of nests belonged to loggerhead sea turtles, with green sea turtles also making a significant presence. The presence of three Kemp's ridley nests and a leatherback nest added to the excitement of the season.

The annual "Sea Turtle Scoop" report by Outer Banks Forever revealed an impressive count of over 25,000 sea turtle hatchlings originating from 378 nests. The report also highlighted the discovery of a leatherback sea turtle nest on Ocracoke Island, the first occurrence in 11 years. This nest successfully hatched, with 19 baby sea turtles making their way to the ocean.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore played a significant role in sea turtle conservation, accounting for 19% of all sea turtle nests in the state. The park staff diligently tracked the nests, with loggerhead turtles being the most prevalent. Outer Banks Forever's "Adopt A Sea Turtle Nest" initiative allowed supporters to contribute to the conservation efforts by adopting nests and raising funds for essential projects and programs at Cape Hatteras.

The success of the sea turtle season at Outer Banks in 2023 is a testament to the dedication of conservation efforts and the importance of protecting the environment for the sustainability of wildlife.