The sea turtle population is one of the unique parts of the Carolina Coast. Each year, volunteers patrol the beach for nests, watch out for their well being, and ensure that the hatchlings make it safely to sea. The Ocean Isle Beach Sea Turtle Protection Organization dedicates its time to educating the general population as well as numerous volunteers about the lives of turtles and their safety on our beaches.
The Ocean Isle Beach Sea Turtle Protection Organization is an independent division of the Ocean Isle Museum Foundation, Inc. operated by Jim and Deb Boyce. Jim and Deb, the Ocean Isle Beach Island Coordinators, are licensed by the North Carolina Wildlife Commission, and Assistant Island Coordinator Deb Allen work with a team of approximately 50 volunteer Field Scientists in a year-round effort to protect sea turtles. Volunteers are trained to be Field Scientists and are especially active between May and late September when female sea turtles dig their nests and lay their eggs.
In addition to identifying and marking nests on Ocean Isle Beach, they also protect hatchlings from predators, transport sick and injured sea turtles to the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center at Topsail Island, and educate the public about these amazing creatures. They give turtle talks at the community center twice a week on Mondays and Tuesdays May 26th through August 1st.
For more information visit www.oibseaturtles.org
To report any sea turtle activity on Ocean Isle Beach, call: 704-607-2027 or the Ocean Isle Beach Police Department 910-579-4221
Sea Turtles Nesting on the Beach
Sea turtles spend most of their time in the water, and their days are filled with feeding and resting. Turtle nesting season, which takes place between mid-May and mid-August, brings more activity. During this time, mama turtles will come onto the beach to dig a nest and lay her eggs.
Female sea turtles lay two to seven nests in a season, though the average is three nests per turtle. Each nest has about 120 eggs. After her active nesting season, the mama turtle then takes two to three years off to recharge her reproductive system, depending on the quality and quantity of her food sources. “We had one mama come back the following year to lay again,” says Cusak. “She must have had a really good food source.”
Once the eggs are laid in the nest, the female never comes back to that nest. She will return to the beach about 12-13 days later to lay another nest, but in typical reptilian behavior, in a different location.
This mama turtle made Holden Beach history in May of 2021, by laying the earliest nest the beach has ever seen. Check out her sweet story here!
