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Contact: B.G. Horvat, 252-838-8906
HARKERS ISLAND, NC – – Annually, sea turtles make a quick trip to the beaches of Cape Lookout National Seashore to nest. The number of recorded sea turtle nests within the park this year has topped previous records. As of July 15, Cape Lookout resource managers have recorded 404 established nests, with additional nests still likely through September. The previous record was 352, back in 2016.Superintendent Jeff West says, “As a result of this incredible number of nests, we will have to temporarily close more of the beach ORV routes than we have in the past. While the closures only last about fifteen days, they will vary and change based on the incubation periods of the nests. We will put in temporary bypass routes when we can, but access to ocean side beaches will be more restricted than normal for the next two months.” Currently, there are 26.8 out of 45 miles of beach closed, leaving 19.2 miles of beach, and 40 miles of backroad remaining open to off-road vehicle traffic.
Loggerhead sea turtles are the most common sea turtles that appear at the Seashore. One female typically will lay three to six nests during the May to September nesting season. Nests that were laid in May are beginning to hatch now and later nests will continue to hatch into November. Most nesting and hatching occurs under the cover of darkness at night. Each nest is unique and takes 50 to 75 days of incubation to hatch, though the average is 60 days. Protection measures are put into place to prevent deep tire ruts and disorientation of hatchlings during the expected hatching window.
For current information on the beach closures at Cape Lookout National Seashore, go to: https://www.nps.gov/calo/planyourvisit/wildlife-closures.htm, or contact the park’s information desk at 252-728-2250, extension ‘0’.
Last updated: July 17, 2019