Facts about our turtles

posted: April 8, 2017, 6:04 AM

Last year (2016) there was a total of 1650 turtle nests in North Carolina (52 of them on our beach). There were 1622 loggerhead sea turtle nests (this is a state record), 34 green turtle nests and 4 Kemps Ridley nests. With over 126200 hatchlings.

Since 2010 we have been part of a special DNA study from the University of Georgia that is researching the turtles in the northern recovery zone (SC, NC and GA). They have identified approximately 9800 different female turtles with 1913 different turtles North Carolina.

The DNA testing last year confirmed that two of the female turtles are Kemp Ridley and Loggerhead hybrids.

Most (30%) of the turtle nests in NC are left where the mother turtle laid them. We call these "natural nests". Due to the condition of our beach, last year we moved 88% of the nests on Holden Beach.


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