New UTV in 2022

posted: May 18, 2022, 12:10 PM

If you are up walking the beach early in the morning you may have noticed a rider in a red shirt driving down the beach on a four-wheel vehicle. The Turtle Watch Program recently purchased a new utility vehicle (UTV) with funds from the budget. Utility vehicles are used to look for new nests that have been laid on Holden Beach.

Pete Palermo oversees the team of riders. These volunteers ride the beach every morning starting in May and continue until the last nest has hatched. They are looking for evidence of new turtle tracks from the mama who had laid her eggs overnight.

Riders for the Turtle Watch Program are required to be full members of the club and must have a valid driver’s license. Team members receive training, which consists of riding the beach, identifying tracks, recording and reporting nests, and maintaining the UTV. These volunteers must be willing to be on the beach before sunrise and endure all weather conditions.

The Turtle Watch Program is grateful for all the donations to our cause. We would not be able to do what we do without your support. Thank you for helping us sustain a growing number of endangered sea turtles. Look for our new UTV and wave at Pete Palermo and other team riders when you see them on the beach.
**This conservation work for protected sea turtles on Holden Beach is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (ES Permit 22ST11).**




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