Sea Turtle Nest Excavations

Public Sea Turtle Nest Excavations

Come watch science in action!

 

NPS Photo

 

Every spring and summer, female sea turtles—like loggerheads, greens, Kemp’s ridleys, and sometimes leatherbacks and hawksbills—come to the shores of Cape Hatteras National Seashore to lay their eggs. About two months later, typically in the darkness of night, up to 150 hatchlings emerge from each deep sandy nest and quickly make their way across the beach to the safety of the Atlantic Ocean.

During August and September, visitors to Cape Hatteras National Seashore can watch as biologists dig up nests that have recently hatched. This process is called an "excavation," where the biologists check what’s left in the nest after the turtles have hatched. Biologists will document what remains in the nest after a natural hatch has occurred for research. They count the empty eggshells, collect unhatched eggs, and sometimes find live or dead hatchlings. While this is happening, a park ranger will talk about sea turtles and explain what the biologists have found.

Nest excavations are an important way for the National Park Service to collect valuable data on sea turtle hatch and emergence success rates. This data is added to the turtle nesting databases for the Seashore and the State of North Carolina.

Every summer at the end of hatching season, our park biologists venture to the beach to perform nest excavations.

 

Want to know more about the sea turtles of the Outer Banks?

Check out our Sea Turtles webpage to learn about the different sea turtle species found in the Outer Banks and how to play a part in their continued protection.

 

NPS Photo

Scheduled Public Nest Excavations

For currently scheduled sea turtle nest excavations see additional details below.

Check back on this page for future sea turtle hatchling releases or follow our social media pages for announcements (Facebook, Instagram)

Due to the unpredictability of sea turtle hatchings, notice of these excavation programs will usually occur only one day in advace, so check back often.


DATE/TIME: Friday, August 23, 2024 at 9:00am (Please allow for extra time to walk to the nest, as the excavation will begin promptly at 9:00am)

WHERE TO PARK: Buxton Lifeguard stand parking lot adjacent to Old Lighthouse Beach - Hatteras Island.

NEST LOCATION: Walk down the beach access path towards the lifeguard stand (0.05 miles). Walk south (right) for approximately 0.12 miles and arrive at the first nest site to the south of the lifeguard stand.

 

Nest Excavation Dates Can be Hard to Predict

Once eggs are laid, incubation of the eggs can take anywhere from 50 to 60 days depending on the species of sea turtles. When the hatching of a nest begins, it can take up to five days before the nest is ready to be excavated.

Just like with human babies, each nest found is given an appoximate "due date," but it really comes down to the turtles -- if they will be ready on time, early, or even a little late.

 

Know Before You Go!

• Come prepared for the conditions. Nest excavations typically take place in full sun on the beach. The high humidity, crowded conditions, and summer heat can be intense. Please bring water with you. A hat, sunglasses, and sunblock are also recommended. You can even bring a beach chair if you want to as long as you sit outside the release perimeter.

• Please leave your pets at home. Trained service animals authorized under the ADA are allowed.

• Look, but don’t touch. If NPS staff or volunteers come around to show you a hatchling, do not attempt to touch it. A newly hatched sea turtle can be easily injured.

• Stay behind the excavation barriers.

 

Virtual Sea Turtle Nest Excavations

Watch the videos below to join in the fun and learn just why these excavations are so important to the study of sea turtles and the seashore.

 

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The requested video is no longer available.