Environmental Factors

The environmental factors which affect the plants, animals, and islands of Cape Lookout include everything from the natural influences of weather and animal grazing to human effects like litter and destruction of dunes.

Some of the effects of these environmental factors are easily visible (like the opening of a new inlet by a storm) while others (such as changes to the location of the islands) are very slow processes which can not be seen with the naked eye.

 

Sixty-one years of wind and wave action have dramatically changed this section of North Core Banks--the ocean shoreline has eroded, the inlets have closed, the elevation has increased.

Stanley Riggs & Dorothea Ames, Department of Geological Sciences, East Carolina University

Wind and Waves

Barrier islands, like Shackleford and the Core Banks, are naturally dynamic geologic features.

The most dramatic changes are brought about by hurricanes and other storm force winds. The winds which accompany these storms blow sands down the shoreline and blow waves across the island, carrying sands with them. These storms can open inlets, erode beaches, and build up the marshes on the soundside of the island.

However, the wind and waves do not need storms to reshape an island. The gradual migration of sand as it is blown by winds and carried by waves constantly alters the shape and location of barrier islands in such a way that the passage of a few decades, even with few or small-scale storms, can radically alter the landscape.

An example of this change can be seen in the image above. (Note: the red line marks the location of the shoreline in 2006 at high tide and the circles indicate the mile markers for mile 10 and mile 11. The lighter areas represent higher elevations while the darker areas indicate lower elevation, water, or vegetation.)

 

The effects of nutria and other exotic species are monitored and reduced by the park.

NPS Photo

Plants and Animals

Herbivores graze on the dune stabilizing grasses. Plants and animals compete for limited resources--such as food, water, and territory.

Balancing this impact is important to the health of these islands. The park works to ensure that the non-native species do not do permanent harm to the native species or landscape and to protect endangered and threatened species from excessive predation and competition.

In the case of the Shackleford horse herd, the impact of these non-native animals is recorded and controlled. The herd size is limited through the use of contraceptives and the removal of selected young horses. This helps prevent the horses from over-grazing and causing lasting damage to the island, their own food supply, and the food supply of the other animals which live on Shackleford Banks. For more information, read the Horses of Shackleford Banks webpage.

 

One of the biggest threats to the health of these islands is irresponsible motorists. Driving over vegetation destroys the plants which trap sand and stabilize the islands.

NPS Photo

Human Impacts

The mission of Cape Lookout National Seashore is to balance human use and recreation with the preservation of the park's natural and cultural resources. Without proper care, people can have a devastating impact on natural ecosystems.

Walking or driving over vegetation can not only damage or destroy those plants it can also destroy the root systems which stabilize these islands.

Trash left behind can kill wildlife when the trash is mistaken for food.

Feeding animals teaches them to beg for scraps and may cause them to become dependent on human food for survival. Once habituated to humans, animals in their search for food can become more agressive towards humans.

Many protected species avoid areas where people like to gather. Certain birds, in particular, will abandon nests when people get too close--leaving their eggs vulnerable to the heat of the sun. Other birds have nests and eggs which are so small and blend in with the beach so well that drivers and pedestrians can accidentally crush the eggs or kill the chicks as they pass through the area. In addition, sea turtle hatchlings can become trapped in tire tracks on their way to the ocean. For all of these reasons, Cape Lookout National Seashore temporarily closes certain areas to reduce the impact of visitors on wildlife.

Your sun protection choices can also affect plants and animals in the ocean. Some chemicals in sunscreens decrease reproduction in fish or cause defects in young mussels. Even if you don’t plan on going in the water, when you rinse your sunscreen off in the shower, it goes down the drain, and eventually out to the ocean. Learn how to protect yourself and the ocean by choosing an ocean friendly sunscreen.

To reduce human impact on the islands, visitors should:

• Drive only in designated areas (see our Beach Driving information)
• Avoid areas closed for wildlife protection (see the current Wildlife Protection Zones)
• Carry out trash and everything else which was carried in to the park
• Keep food away from animals
• Walk only on designated paths or ground with no vegetation
• Pledge to cover up and wear a hat and sunglasses and use sunscreens with non-nanotized zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Take the pledge to protect yourself and the ocean.