Stranding Team call for terrapin
posted: April 6, 2026, 1:07 PM
Meet the 2026 Holden Beach Turtle Patrol Stranding Team.24/7/365 these folks are available to help a sick or injured turtle on Holden Beach.
If you see a sea turtle in need of assistance, please call the stranding team at 910 -754- 0766. Please use this phone number for turtle EMERGENCIES only.
We got out first stranding call of the 2026 season today. It was a Diamondback Terrapin. While they occasionally wander onto the beach, they are NOT sea turtles. In fact, they are the only turtles in North America that live exclusively in brackish water.
When we receive a call about a terrapin on the beach, we notify the state immediately. As a "Species of Special Concern" in NC, every report is vital for their protection and conservation.
There are many reasons to love these "Diamonds." Their shells feature beautiful patterns as unique as a fingerprint, and they play a crucial role in the ecosystem by snacking on snails and crabs to keep the marsh healthy. Interestingly, female terrapins grow to be nearly twice the size of their male counterparts.
Every May, the state conducts a "Terrapin Tally" to monitor the population. To learn how you can participate in this project, visit the NC Terrapin Tally Website.
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