Emerald Isle sees third-largest sea turtle nesting season on record

EMERALD ISLE, N.C. (WITN) - It’s peak sea turtle hatching season, with nests hatching all along the Crystal Coast.

The Emerald Isle Sea Turtle Patrol is busy monitoring nests and ensuring that hatchlings reach the ocean safely.

Program coordinator Heather Keever said with 42 nests already, this is the town’s third-largest season on record.

“Because we’ve had so many together and so many nests they’ve been hatching, basically at the same time,” Keever said.

Emerald Isle usually averages about 20 nests a year. So far, 27 have hatched. In the August heat, Keever urges visitors to be mindful of hatching nests and to take steps to avoid harming them.

“Clean up your beach equipment when you leave for the day. Flatten any sandcastles, fill any holes, and keep your lights out if you’re beachfront. That helps the hatchlings find their way to the ocean,” Keever said.

Nests along the beach are blocked off with caution tape and warning signs.

Visitor Haydon Smith said protecting the nests is a shared responsibility.

“You got a lot of people coming on the beach, walking, and bringing their strollers. You don’t want to run over them and possibly crack their eggs. So, with caution tape being around us, I think it just protects the sea turtles’ eggs,” Smith said.

Keever said the remaining 15 nests are expected to hatch by the end of September.

Tampering with a sea turtle nest is a federal crime punishable by fines of up to $50,000 or a year in jail. If you encounter a stranded turtle, the patrol asks that you call them immediately.