National Seashore Updates for the Week of August 2

The Cape Hatteras National Seashore (CHNS) announced several recent updates and news items related to recreational activities and seashore conditions on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands.

News items and events related to the National Seashore for the week of August 2 include the following:

Seashore Updates

• Dare County’s CurrentTV created a Video on Demand section on its website that includes National Park Service videos. Currently, you can watch a sea turtle program, lighthouse climb program, the 20th anniversary of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse move event, and the 50th anniversary of the lunar landing event, by visiting https://currenttv.org/series/national-park-service. More videos will be uploaded in the future.
• As of August 1 at 4 p.m., staff have found 418 sea turtle nests across the Seashore. The previous record for a single season was 325 nests.
• Cape Hatteras National Seashore has made additional adjustments to beach access in the Cape Point area. On Thursday afternoon, additional pedestrian access was provided along the east-facing shoreline to allow for walking to the tip of Cape Point. The pedestrian-only access begins at approximately 0.61 miles south of
  Ramp 44. Drivers of ORVs can travel 0.61 miles south of Ramp 44, exit vehicles, and access the tip of Cape Point by walking a short distance.
• An adjustment to ORV beach access at Cape Point was also made on Thursday. ORVs can now travel south of Ramp 44 and continue around the westside of the least tern protection buffer to reach a portion of the southfacing beach, commonly referred to as “the hook” side of the point. A protection buffer remains in place within the interior of Cape Point to
  protect multiple least tern chicks. For current beach access information, visit http://go.nps.gov/beachaccess. Additional ORV and pedestrian access will be provided when possible.
• On August 1, priority ORV ramps began opening at 6:30 a.m. and closing at 9 p.m. All other designated ORV ramps open at 7 a.m. and close at 9 p.m. Transition to night driving (24 hours a day) could occur as early as September
  15, if there are no sea turtle nests along a route. The priority ramps are ramps 2, 4, 25, 27, 43, 44, 48, 49, 70, and 72.

Upcoming Events

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Move – Interpretive Program

• Dates: August 3-August 9, 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (daily program)
• Location: Hatteras Island Visitor Center pavilion
• Description: Learn about the monumental move event that happened in 1999 when the entire light station was moved 2,900 feet away from the threat of a changing shoreline.

Hatteras Island: Shaping the Barrier Islands – Interpretive Program

• Dates: August 3-August 9, 3:30-4:00 p.m. (daily program)
• Location: Hatteras Island Visitor Center pavilion
• Description: Wars, wind, hurricanes, and ocean currents have all had impacts on the shores of Cape Hatteras. Join us to learn about some of these events and the changes they have made to the island.

Fish with a Ranger (Buxton)

• Date: August 5 from 8:00 am to 9:30 am
• Location: Buxton
• Description: We bring the poles, you bring the bait! Call 252-475-9622 to pre-register beginning the Saturday prior to the program.

Fish with a Ranger (Rodanthe)

• Date: August 6 from 8:30 am to 10:00 am
• Location: Rodanthe
• Description: We bring the poles, you bring the bait! Call 252-475-9622 to pre-register beginning the Saturday prior to the program.

Especially for Kids

• Date: August 6  from 11:30 am to 12:00 pm
• Location: Hatteras Island Visitor Center Pavilion
• Description: Hands-on games or activities for kids and families all about seashore animals.

Dark Skies Over Hatteras

• Date: August 6 from 9:00 pm to 10:00 pm
• Location: Ramp 43 parking area
• Description: Bring blankets and chairs for this evening of stars and stories on the beach.

Castnetting

• Date: August 7 from 9:30-11:00 am
• Location: Location varies, call to pre-register
• Description: Practice this early method of fishing still used today. Call 252-475-9622 to pre-register beginning the Saturday prior to the program.

Morning Bird Walk

• Date: August 8 from 8:00 am to 9:30 am
• Location: Meet at the fish cleaning tables near Ramp 44
• Description: Meet winged residents and those traveling the Atlantic Flyway. Binoculars are available. Bring bug spray.

Salvo Soundside Activities for Kids

• Date: August 9 from 9:30 am to 10:00 am
• Location: Salvo Sound Access (Day Use Area)
• Description: Meet at Salvo Sound Access for soundside exploration and discovery.
• Ocracoke Island Interpretive

1st Annual Surf Fishing Heritage Celebration

• Date: November 2
• Location: Fessenden Center, Buxton
• Description: Cape Hatteras National Seashore, along with partner organizations, will celebrate the area’s strong surf fishing history at the 1st annual Cape Hatteras Surf Fishing Heritage Celebration. More details about this event will be posted on a special event page and Facebook page.