Sea Turtles in the Outer Banks: What You Need to Know

The Outer Banks is known for its beautiful beaches, wild horses, lighthouses and rich coastal wildlife, but there is another important part of the local ecosystem that often goes unnoticed: sea turtles. Every year, sea turtles return to North Carolina's beaches to nest, leaving behind tracks in the sand and, eventually, tiny hatchlings making their way toward the ocean.

Whether you're visiting the Outer Banks for a week at the beach or live here year-round, knowing how to share the shoreline with these protected animals can help keep our beaches safe for nesting mothers and hatchlings.

When Is Sea Turtle Nesting Season in the Outer Banks?

Sea turtle nesting season generally runs from May through August, although nesting activity can extend into the later summer and fall as nests continue to incubate and hatch. North Carolina's sea turtle monitoring programs begin checking beaches in the spring and continue monitoring nests throughout the season.

On the Outer Banks, volunteers and wildlife organizations patrol beaches looking for the distinctive tracks left behind by nesting turtles. In the northern Outer Banks, the Network for Endangered Sea Turtles (N.E.S.T.) conducts daily morning patrols during nesting season along approximately 53 miles of coastline, marking and protecting newly discovered nests.

This means that if you're walking the beach early in the morning during the summer, you may come across a set of tracks leading from the ocean toward the dunes. Those tracks can provide important clues about where a turtle came ashore.

What Types of Sea Turtles Live Around the Outer Banks?

North Carolina's coastal waters are home to several species of sea turtles. The most commonly encountered include:

Loggerhead Sea Turtles

Loggerheads are the most common sea turtle nesting along North Carolina's beaches. They have large heads and powerful jaws that help them eat hard-shelled prey such as crabs and mollusks.

Loggerheads are also the species you're most likely to associate with sea turtle nests on Outer Banks beaches.

Green Sea Turtles

Green sea turtles also visit North Carolina waters and occasionally nest on the state's beaches. Juvenile green turtles may spend time in coastal waters while growing before eventually becoming adults.

Despite their name, green sea turtles aren't necessarily green on the outside. Their name comes from the color of their body fat, which is associated with their diet.

Leatherback Sea Turtles

Leatherbacks are the largest species of sea turtle in the world and can reach extraordinary sizes. They are much less common nesters in North Carolina than loggerheads but do occur in the state's coastal waters.

Unlike other sea turtles, leatherbacks don't have a hard shell. Instead, their backs are covered by a flexible, leathery skin.

Kemp's Ridley and Hawksbill Sea Turtles

Kemp's ridley and hawksbill turtles can also occur in North Carolina waters, although they are less frequently encountered along the Outer Banks.

All five species that occur in North Carolina are protected under state and federal laws, so it's important to give any sea turtle you encounter plenty of space.

What Does a Sea Turtle Nest Look Like?

A sea turtle nest can be surprisingly easy to miss.

A female turtle typically comes ashore at night, crawls above the high-tide line and digs a nest in the sand. After laying her eggs, she covers the nest and returns to the ocean.

The following morning, you may see a wide track leading from the water to the dunes. Wildlife volunteers use these tracks to help identify turtle activity and locate nests.

Once a nest is located, it may be marked with stakes, rope or other protective materials. If you see a marked sea turtle nest, stay outside the protected area and never disturb the sand around it.

What Should You Do If You See a Sea Turtle on the Beach?

Seeing a sea turtle nesting on the Outer Banks is a special experience, but the best thing you can do is give the turtle plenty of space and let her continue without interference.

If you encounter a nesting sea turtle at night:

• Stay quiet and remain still.
• Keep your distance.
• Do not touch the turtle.
• Do not shine a flashlight directly at her.
• Avoid using flash photography.
• Keep children and pets away.
• Never attempt to push, pull or redirect the turtle.
• Allow her to finish nesting and return to the ocean on her own.

Artificial light and human activity can disturb nesting turtles and may cause them to abandon their nesting attempt.

What About Flashlights?

If you need a flashlight while walking on the beach at night, use a red filter rather than a bright white light. North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission specifically recommends red-filtered flashlights for nighttime beachgoers during sea turtle nesting season.

Why Are Beachfront Lights a Problem for Sea Turtles?

One of the biggest challenges for sea turtles on developed beaches is artificial light.

Newly hatched turtles naturally use light cues from the night sky and ocean horizon to find their way toward the water. Artificial lights from homes, businesses, vehicles and other sources can disorient hatchlings, causing them to crawl away from the ocean instead.

For Outer Banks homeowners and vacation-rental guests, this is an especially important consideration.

During nesting and hatching season:

• Turn off unnecessary outdoor lights facing the beach.
• Close blinds or curtains at night if you're staying in an oceanfront home.
• Shield or redirect exterior lighting away from the beach.
• Avoid using bright flashlights on the beach.
• Follow any local lighting requirements or guidance.

These simple steps can make a meaningful difference for hatchlings trying to reach the water.

What Should You Do If You Find Sea Turtle Hatchlings?

If you're lucky enough to see hatchlings on the beach, do not pick them up or help them reach the ocean.

It can be tempting to intervene, especially if a hatchling appears to be moving slowly or heading in the wrong direction. However, wildlife officials recommend leaving hatchlings alone and allowing them to make their own way toward the water.

Keep people, pets and beach equipment away from their path and avoid shining lights on them.

If hatchlings appear to be stranded or there is an obvious problem, contact local wildlife officials or the appropriate sea turtle organization rather than attempting to handle them yourself.

Why Should You Fill In Sandcastles and Holes?

A fun day at the beach can leave behind more obstacles than you might realize.

Sandcastles, holes, chairs, umbrellas and other beach equipment can become obstacles for both nesting females and hatchlings. Hatchlings in particular need a relatively clear path between their nest and the ocean.

North Carolina Wildlife recommends removing recreational equipment from the beach at night during nesting season and avoiding activities that could interfere with nesting turtles or hatchlings.

Before leaving the beach, take a few minutes to:

Fill in sand holes.
Knock down large sandcastles.
Take chairs and umbrellas with you.
Remove toys and other beach equipment.
Pick up all trash.

It is a small effort that helps keep the beach safer for wildlife.

Keep Dogs Away From Sea Turtle Nests

Dogs can be curious about the unusual smells and tracks left behind by sea turtles. However, they can accidentally disturb nests or interfere with hatchlings.

During nesting season, keep your dog under control and follow the pet regulations for the beach you're visiting. North Carolina Wildlife also recommends keeping pets on a leash as part of its sea turtle protection guidelines.

Why Is Trash Dangerous to Sea Turtles?

Sea turtles spend much of their lives in the ocean, where they can encounter fishing line, plastic, balloons and other marine debris.

Turtles can mistake floating plastic and other debris for food. Fishing line and other discarded materials can also cause dangerous entanglements.

One of the easiest ways beachgoers can help is simply to leave no trash behind.

When you leave the beach, take everything with you—including small pieces of plastic, food wrappers and fishing line.

And if you see trash while you're enjoying the beach, picking up a few pieces and disposing of them properly can help protect more than just sea turtles.

What If You Find an Injured or Stranded Sea Turtle?

Sea turtles occasionally wash ashore along the Outer Banks. A turtle that appears injured, sick or unusually inactive may need professional assistance.

Do not attempt to return a stranded turtle to the ocean yourself. Instead, contact the appropriate local wildlife or sea turtle response organization so trained personnel can determine what assistance is needed.

The North Carolina Sea Turtle Project works with a network of organizations and volunteers to monitor and protect sea turtles along the coast.

How You Can Help Protect Sea Turtles on the Outer Banks

You don't have to be a wildlife researcher or volunteer to make a difference.

When visiting the Outer Banks during sea turtle season:

• Keep beaches free of trash.
• Remove beach equipment at night.
• Fill in holes before leaving the beach.
• Keep pets under control.
• Use red-filtered flashlights at night.
• Turn off or shield beachfront lights.
• Never disturb a sea turtle nest.
• Give nesting turtles plenty of space.
• Don't touch hatchlings or help them toward the water.
• Keep vehicles away from marked nests and nesting areas.
• Be careful when boating and watch for turtles in the water.

Beach driving deserves particular attention because vehicles can compact sand over nests, potentially harming developing hatchlings, while tire ruts can make it more difficult for hatchlings to reach the ocean.

Sea Turtles Are Part of What Makes the Outer Banks Special

From Corolla to Hatteras Island, the beaches of the Outer Banks provide important habitat for sea turtles. While most visitors may never see a nesting turtle or a hatchling, their presence is a reminder that these beaches are more than just a place to swim, surf and relax.

The next time you see a set of unusual tracks in the sand or notice a marked area on the beach, take a moment to appreciate what is happening beneath the sand. By giving sea turtles the space they need and making a few simple changes to how we use the beach, visitors and residents can help protect one of the Outer Banks' most remarkable coastal animals.

Planning an Outer Banks vacation? Be sure to check local beach rules and wildlife advisories for the specific town you're visiting, as regulations can vary throughout the Outer Banks.

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