Teams begin watching for hatchlings

posted: July 14, 2024, 9:58 AM

Turtle patrol teams are now on the beach in the evenings preparing and watching the nests.
Fifty days after the mother laid the turtle nest a team puts a "collar" on the nest and digs a "trench" to help guide the hatchlings toward the ocean. Day #55 after the nest was laid is the "due date". But, with early season nests it may take a little longer to incubate because the sand was cooler when the eggs were laid. Typically, a nest will hatch between day 55 and day 70.

Look for red shirt patrol members on the beach in the evening to get the status of the nests. Following recommendations from the NC Wildlife Commission we are not permitted to share where these nests are located.

Mother turtles are still laying nests overnight and we expect this to continue through the first couple weeks in August. Last year we had 75 nests. Our overall highest number was 105 nests in 2019. For data on nests and hatchlings since 1990 take the historical link on the middle of the right column of front page of this website.

Now more-than-ever, it's important to keep ocean facing lights off overnight. Those hatchlings are looking for the bright waves in the ocean and get easily distracted toward the dunes by lights.






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