Although May is typically early in the season for sea turtle nesting, volunteers at Figure Eight Island already spotted 3 sea turtle nests this week! The Wrightsville Beach Sea Turtle Projectreports that these are the most nests spotted in May in 27 years. Another nest was found in Carolina Beach this week, making it a very active season so far.
According to their Facebook Page, “The Wrightsville Beach Sea Turtle Project is a group of caring volunteers that works on a daily basis to help protect the sea turtles of Wrightsville Beach and surrounding areas…. Each summer, volunteers walk the length of Wrightsville Beach every morning at sunrise to look for new sea turtle nests. This allows us to help protect the sea turtle eggs, and ensure that the baby sea turtles hatch safely.”
Wrightsville Beach and the surrounding beaches of southeastern North Carolina are traditionally popular nesting sites for female loggerhead sea turtles. It’s so important to have the dedicated volunteers of the Wrightsville Beach Sea Turtle Project, Sea Turtle Camp, the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, and other area organizations looking out for sea turtle nests in order to protect the eggs from foot traffic and predators.
For more information on North Carolina sea turtle nests, see: Sea Turtle Nesting in Wrightsville Beach.