It’s sea turtle nesting season, May first through October thirty-first and you can make a difference.
Each year, female turtles return to our beaches to nest, and tiny hatchlings begin their journey to the sea. But lights, trash, and obstacles can stop them in their tracks. You can help protect these amazing creatures by keeping our beaches Clean, Dark, and Flat.
Clean: Pick up trash, recycle when you can, and bring in beach gear like chairs and umbrellas. Turtles can become entangled in leftover items.
Dark: Turn off outdoor lights or use turtle-friendly bulbs. Indoors, close your blinds and avoid using flashlights or flash photography near turtles. Even a small light, like your phone, can mislead hatchlings away from the ocean.
Flat: Before you leave the beach, fill in holes that could trap nesting turtles or hatchlings.
Do your part for sea turtles and learn more at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center.
If you see an injured turtle, a nest, or something worth reporting, call the North Carolina Sea Turtle Hotline at
252-241-7367.