A coastal storm that impacted the Outer Banks on Sunday and Monday, temporarily closing N.C. Highway 12 on Ocracoke Island and between Frisco and Hatteras Village, has brought waves of debris to the beaches near Hatteras Inlet, on the southern end of Hatteras Island.
Per multiple reports, the debris is a collection of whelks, live and dead sea creatures, (including starfish, Scotch Bonnets, fish, and mollusks), animal bones, driftwood, and tons of trash.
Beachcombers in the Hatteras Inlet area on Wednesday reported a jumble of tires, nets, fishing poles, sunglasses, shoes, toys, and various metal and plastic items washing ashore, and many islanders brought along extra bags to remove the trash from the shoreline.
It is not unusual for Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands to be briefly flooded with trash and treasures for several days after a storm. In September 2023, hundreds of whelks made an appearance after Hurricane Lee, and an October 2022 storm resulted in swarms of jellyfish washing ashore on northern Ocracoke Island.
Time will tell how long the most recent bout of shells and debris will continue to appear near Hatteras Inlet, but in the meantime, dozens of conscientious beachcombers are flocking to the area to look for treasures while picking up as much garbage as possible along the way.
