Last chance to adopt a sea turtle nest for the 2022 season; Program ends August 31

Outer Banks Forever, the local nonprofit partner of the Outer Banks’ national parks, recently announced that there is still time to join their annual “Adopt a Sea Turtle Nest” program for the 2022 sea turtle nesting season, which occurs each year between May and October.

Biological technicians at Cape Hatteras National Seashore are currently monitoring 350 active sea turtle nests, and 177 of those nests have already been adopted.

“Our adopt a sea turtle nest program closes for the season on August 31, so there is still time to adopt your nest,” stated Outer Banks Forever in a recent update. “With your support, we can reach our goal of having 200 nests adopted.”

Here’s how the Adopt A Sea Turtle Nest program works:

• Donate: Give a tax-deductible donation of $100 or more to reserve your 2022 sea turtle nest and support projects that protect and enhance Cape Hatteras National Seashore now and for future generations. 
• Get your nest: You will be assigned an active nest and will receive an adoption certificate by mail along with initial information about your unique nest including general location and sea turtle species.
• Wait to hatch: When your nest hatches, you will receive a personalized update with information our biological technicians collect about your nest, including where it was located and the number of hatchlings that made their way out of your nest.

(Note: If you’ve already adopted your nest, stay tuned in the next few weeks to receive your nest update including how many sea turtles hatched from your nest.)

The Adopt a Sea Turtle Nest program is just one of many ongoing projects that are hosted by Outer Banks Forever, and which are designed to enhance and protect the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. For more information on the organization, including its current projects, click here.