Sea turtles flock to Carolina Beach every season. You may even want to call it the sea turtle capital of the country. While this may be an amazing opportunity to catch some Carolina Beach sea turtles up close, they are highly protected. This is our guide to getting the most out of a sea turtle adventure while still respecting the iconic and seasonal Carolina Beach wildlife.
What is sea turtle nesting season all about?
For about four months of the year, a variety of sea turtles will arrive at the shores of Carolina Beach to lay eggs. The most common of these North Carolina sea turtles is the loggerhead, who may return three to five times in a single season!
There are seven total species of sea turtle in the world and six are highly endangered. In all, Carolina Beach sees about five different species. These include the loggerhead, Kemp’s ridley, leatherback, green and hawksbill. Though all these species come and visit most seasons, only three, the loggerhead, green, and leatherbacks, will actually lay eggs.
Sea Turtle Nesting in Carolina Beach runs from the middle of May to late August, depending on ocean patterns and weather. This process is so incredibly important. Almost all female sea turtles will return to the same beach they were born. This is one main reason, amongst many, why preservation and protection are so key.
Late in the season is perhaps the most special time of all. Thousands of small sea turtles will break out of their eggs and traverse the beach to the ocean- perhaps to return years later and nest themselves!
What Can You Do?
If the sea turtles are highly protected, and seeing them up close is heavily discouraged, what exactly can you do?
Professional groups will help oversee and manage the sea turtle nesting season. Through them, it is possible to engage with the process- or at least admire it from a safe distance!
There are two main entities preserving and protecting the local populations. The first is the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehab Center. You can visit the center and view some of the current (hopefully temporary) residents. The center will periodically do special events where they will release a guest back into the ocean.
The Pleasure Island Sea Turtle Project is another way to engage with the turtles. This modest organization offers Pleasure Island sea turtles talks during the summer. Guests can learn about the life cycle of a sea turtle, the measures locals go to towards preservation, and the habitat the turtles thrive in.
The organization has partnered with the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. Stop by for more marine life fun. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Finally, organizations may offer dedicated night walks during the season. These require a specific program membership, but they take you to the beaches to spot babies heading to the water.
Patrol Ride-Alongs are also a fantastic way to catch nesters during the day and easily one of the best activities for wildlife lovers. Both require a donation to the local programs. You can head to the Carolina Beach State Park visitors center for additional schedule details.
Turtle Facts
Sea turtles are simply amazing. We collected our six favorite facts about the special species.
- While many sea turtles, mostly loggerheads, will nest multiple times a season, they do not necessarily nest every year.
- Loggerheads may drop up to 120 eggs in a single nesting!
- It takes anywhere from 15 to 30 years for sea turtles to reach sexual maturity.
- The entire North Carolina beach coastline is monitored over the season. Specialists have an understanding of virtually every sea turtle that steps onto the shores of the state.
- Sea turtles are very picky about where they nest. It is very common for a sea turtle to do a false crawl- walk up to the beach and return without laying an egg at all!
- It is common for baby sea turtles to take several days leaving their eggs, waiting for the rest of the nest before they all crawl out together in a single evening!
Stay with Victory Beach
Contact us for additional details about sea turtle preservation and how to make the most of your vacation. Don’t forget to book one of our summer season Carolina Beach vacation rentals! Start planning your Carolina Beach adventure today, give us a call at 910-458-0868 to speak to one of our friendly advisors!
