King tides threatening sea turtle nests on N.C. coast

OAK ISLAND, N.C. — King tides are putting sea turtle nests in jeopardy along North Carolina’s coast.

“Our sea turtles are on the endangered species list,” Suzan Bell, a volunteer for the Oak Island Sea Turtle Protection Program, said. “A nest can still be viable with tide wash overs. If the water can wash up and flow off, then that can actually be good for a nest sometimes. But, if the water comes up and sits on a nest, it can unfortunately either drown hatchlings that were already hatched or it can make the eggs nonviable.”

Sea turtles create nests along a 9.5 mile stretch of Oak Island between May and late October. 

“Oak Island is really one of the top three or four nesting beaches in North Carolina,” Bell said.

Volunteers for the Oak Island Sea Turtle Protection Program have been walking along the beach every morning and night this week to check if they have been impacted by the tides. They build walls of sand around the nests to protect them and guide the turtles to the ocean once they hatch.

“We built sand barriers all around the nest to help, so if the tide comes up and the hatchlings emerge, hopefully they would still have a little bit of a runway to the water,” Bell said.

Bell said the king tides have washed over at least one nest this week, but it is still too early to know if it has been destroyed. 

Volunteers are hopeful their work will protect the hatchlings and lead more turtles to the ocean. 

“I have been a part of this for 24 years, and I still get excited,” Bell said. “My adrenaline starts to flow. I get excited. I get to witness what I feel is a true miracle. To be a part of that and to help these little hatchlings make it to the water, It’s just a wonderful feeling.” 

High tides from Hurricane Erin destroyed at least two nests on Oak Island in August.