April's arrival has brought seasonal off-road vehicle restrictions at Cape Hatteras National Seashore in North Carolina so nesting shorebirds and sea turtles will have a measure of solitude.

In accordance with the seashore's ORV Management Plan, the following seasonal ORV routes close annually to vehicles from April 1 through October 31. These areas remain open to pedestrian use.

Hatteras Island:

* 0.1 mile south of Rodanthe Pier to Ramp 23 (Rodanthe-Waves-Salvo)

* Ramp 34 to Ramp 38 (Avon)

* East Frisco boundary to west Frisco boundary (Frisco village beach)

* East Hatteras boundary to Ramp 55 (Hatteras village beach)

Ocracoke Island:

* 0.5 mile northeast of Ramp 68 to Ramp 68 (Ocracoke Campground area)

These closures in the past have generated intense controversy among those who enjoy ORV driving on the beaches, using ORVs to reach their favorite fishing spots, and conservationists concerned about the welfare of piping plovers, oystercatchers, sea turtles, and other wildlife drawn to the beaches for nesting.

If you live or play along the national seashore, let us know how things are going these days.