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First Sea Turtle Nest Of The 2017 Nesting Season Found At Cape Hatteras National Seashore

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Published Date

May 11, 2017

At least one sea turtle has come ashore at Cape Hatteras National Seashore to lay her eggs. This file photo shows the tracks left behind by sea turtles on the beaches/NPS

Sea turtles are coming ashore at Cape Hatteras National Seashore on the Outer Banks of North Carolina to begin their nesting season. 

One nest was found Tuesday morning near the north end of Avon Village. It is the earliest documented Loggerhead sea turtle nest on the seashore since at least 2002.

All beach users should be aware of their surroundings, as sea turtles can be difficult to see when crawling on a beach environment. Their shell color blends in well with the sand, especially after dark and at dawn when they are most likely to be active. There may also be thrown sand on the turtle that accumulates from the nesting process.

If you are driving an off-road vehicle on the beach, please drive carefully within the speed limit and avoid running over any objects. Sea turtles generally leave a U-shaped crawl path on the beach when they come to nest. The National Park Service asks that you stop immediately and do not proceed if you see an adult or hatchling sea turtle. Sea turtle hatchlings are small (about 2-3 inches long) and from a vehicle, hatchlings look like small dark objects that may appear to be vegetation or other debris on the beach.

If you encounter a sea turtle hatchling, sea turtle tracks, or an adult sea turtle, report it by calling 252-216-6892.

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