Click the link below to shop and donate online or find the instructions if you prefer to mail us a check.
And we still have some 2025 shirts available at discount prices. These are only available through our online store or mail order. The Lighthouse does not have any 2025 shirts. shop, donate and adopt a nest here
Found a mother turtle laying a nest? A stranded or injured sea turtle and/or unattended hatchlings?
Call the HBTWP Stranding Team:
910-754-0766 | 24/7/365
Nesting turtles are frightened by lights and won't lay their eggs on a brightly lighted beach. Hatchlings will go to the lights rather than the ocean! Please help us preserve our marine life by keeping beachfront lighting off from May 1st until October 31st. learn more turtle facts
As recommended by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, it is the policy of the HBTWP to NOT disclose the locations or potential hatch dates of active turtle nests on our beach.
A list of nest locations will NOT be published in newspapers, on this website or on other social media. Please do NOT call the emergency number or contact the Project Coordinator to ask about nests. This is for the safety of the turtles! learn more about turtle nesting
Current Nest Count |
False Crawls |
78 |
43 |
Total Known Eggs |
Hatchlings to Ocean |
8887 |
7068 |
posted: September 19, 2026, 10:40 AM
OMG. We are speechless! Overnight Friday September18 into Saturday morning September 19, nest #75 on our beach was vandalized. This is a federal offense with up to a $50,000 fine for these actions. The Holden Beach Police Department is actively investigating. We are sad. We are angry. But, there is good news about this whole situation. Members of our stranding team were able to find the eggs. They are safe and intact. The nest site was put back together. We will monitor this nest closely. It is not expected to hatch for at least another week. Please, if you know
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posted: September 16, 2026, 4:13 PM
This is a story with a happy ending. On May 23 of this year our stranding team received a call about an injured turtle on the beach. The team responded and found a juvenile green sea turtle that had been struck by a boat. Our stranding team took her to the Karen Beasley Turtle Hospital and Rehabilitation near Topsail, NC for emergency care. She was given the name Bread Puddin' (all the patients at the hospital have dessert names this year). The good news is 110 days later she was rehabilitated and ready to go home. On Thursday September 10
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posted: September 13, 2026, 11:46 AM
Our new Adopt a Nest program has been very popular. We love seeing adopters at the nests. Thank you for your support. Nest #35 and #36 Hannah Simmons, Mt. Airy, NC Nest # 37 Barbara Ashley, Bolivia, NC Nest # 38 Jenny Stoner,Holden Beach, NC Nest #39 Shelia Kupniwski Holmes, Wilmington, NC Nest #40 and 41 Rebecca Crabtree, South Salem, OH Nest # 42 Carol Wilson, Maiden, NC Nest #43 Diana Sullivan, Bolivia, NC Nest #44 Emily Thompson, Supply, NC Nest #45 Pat Fredette, Bolivia, NC Net #46 Tyler Harrison, Lexington, NC Nest #47 Cheryl Causey Cox, Bolivia, NC Nest
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posted: August 29, 2026, 10:12 AM
This has been another busy week for the HBTP. Last Sunday we declared the nesting season over for the year because it had been 14 days since we saw a momma on the beach. But, surprise... another nest.... #76. How did we get a new nest without a new momma? A "wild nest"....possibly from a false crawl. When we inventoried it there were 118 empty shells. Another exciting event this week was nest #15. We thought it was a loss. This nest was laid on June 11 on the east end of the island. The nest was left where the
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