Virtual Sea Turtle Nest Excavation Scheduled for Friday at 10 a.m.

Beach fans who missed last week’s virtual sea turtle nest excavation will have a second opportunity to catch a live show, as the Cape Hatteras National Seashore (CHNS) and Outer Banks Forever are partnering once again for a virtual excavation on Friday, September 11, at 10 a.m.

Every summer, sea turtles visit the beaches of Hatteras and Ocracoke islands to lay their eggs. This year, the National Seashore has had more than 220 nests reported along the local shorelines so far, with many nests starting to hatch on a near-daily basis.

One of the ways that national park staff assist these turtles is by gathering data after each nest hatches. Because of current social distancing guidelines, park staff are unable to hold the public sea turtle nest excavations, which traditionally attract hundreds of spectators every year. However, CHNS and partner organization, Outer Banks Forever, will be hosting a live sea turtle nest excavation online, so that virtual beach-goers can still enjoy the experience.

Click here to join CHNS and Outer Banks Forever on Facebook this Friday, September 11, at 10:00 a.m. to view a virtual sea turtle nest excavation at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

During this excavation, a park biologist will dig up a recently hatched nest, count the empty shells, and collect unhatched eggs for research. Park staff will also share information about the sea turtles that nest on the Outer Banks beaches, and will also explain what is going on throughout the excavation.

The event may be postponed or canceled due to inclement weather. Please stay tuned to the Facebook event page for any updates on the date and time of this excavation.