Annual ‘Adopt A Sea Turtle Nest’ program underway

It’s sea turtle nesting season and Outer Banks Forever is offering a way to protect these critters through its annual Adopt a Sea Turtle Nest program at Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

A tax-deductible donation of $100 or more will allow the donor to symbolically adopt an active sea turtle nest at the seashore during nesting season May through October. Donors will receive an official 2022 adoption certificate and updates on their specific nest including sea turtle species, number of eggs, number of hatchlings and more once the nest hatches.

Outer Banks Forever, the official nonprofit partner of the Outer Banks national parks, launched the program in 2020. In 2021, the program raised more than $10,000 to support the seashore and was recently recognized by the Public Lands Alliance for Outstanding Public Engagement at its annual awards ceremony.

“The Adopt a Sea Turtle Nest program is a fun way for people to learn more about these popular island visitors and the work our national park staff does every day to help protect them. It’s also fun for us to send updates to each person who adopts a nest, particularly sharing the number of sea turtle hatchlings that make their way out of each nest,” said Jessica Barnes, Director of Outer Banks Forever, in a statement. “It’s a great way to feel connected to these amazing animals while also supporting Cape Hatteras National Seashore.”

To make a tax-deductible donation online visit www.obxforever.org/adoptaseaturtlenest or send by mail to Outer Banks Forever at P.O. Box 1635, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948, with “Adopt A Sea Turtle Nest” in the memo

Donors will be assigned an active sea turtle nest and will receive an adoption certificate by mail along with initial information about your unique nest including general location and sea turtle species. Organizers said that as sea turtles are beginning to arrive this month, it may take two to four weeks to be assigned a nest.

When the nest hatches, the donor will receive a personalized update with detailed information about your nest including where it was located and the number of hatchlings that made their way to the ocean.

There are a limited number of nests each year and they are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

“Nature belongs to all of us – no individual or group that participates in this program may claim ownership of a sea turtle nest, eggs or hatchlings. For the safety of the sea turtles, your exact nest location will not be shared until after it has hatched,” organizers said.

Learn more about the sea turtles that visit the Outer Banks by watching Outer Banks Forever’s interview with Meaghan Johnson, Chief of Resource Management and Science for the Outer Banks national parks.