2024 marks the sixth-busiest sea turtle nesting season on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore
With 303 turtle nests recorded along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore (CHNS), 2024 is another solid year for nesting activity, although not as active as recent record-breaking years, including 2023.
“This year marked the sixth highest number of nests laid, reflecting an average season overall,” stated CHNS in an update. “It’s common for nesting numbers to fluctuate from year to year, but since data collection began, the trend at Cape Hatteras has generally been moving upward. Looking ahead, we might see even more nests next season, as sea turtles typically nest every 2-4 years.”
In fact, the top three years for sea turtle nesting activity within CHNS have all occurred within the past five years, and are as follows:
- 2019 – 473 nests
- 2022 – 379 nests
- 2023 – 378 nests
According to seaturtle.org, which actively monitors sea turtle nests all around the globe, of the 303 nests, 296 were loggerhead sea turtles, four were green sea turtles, two were leatherback sea turtles, and one was a Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle.
Sea turtle nests laid by loggerheads, Kemp’s Ridley turtles, green turtles, and leatherbacks have been monitored at CHNS since the 1970s. The Outer Banks serves as seasonal breeding grounds for endangered sea turtles, and the nesting season typically begins slowly in mid-to-late May, before it heats up in the prime summer months. In 2024, the first sea turtle nest was discovered on May 11 in Frisco.
Visitors who notice any sea turtle activity – such as cold-stunned sea turtles which start to appear when temperatures drop – are advised to call the Cape Hatteras National Seashore to report the sighting at 252-216-6892. For the full report from seaturtle.org, click here.
