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Hundreds of sea turtles come ashore to nest on North Carolina’s beaches each summer. These loggerheads, leatherbacks, ridleys and green sea turtles lay eggs by the hundred, then return to the sea. Thousands of tiny hatchlings emerge and follow their instincts toward the ocean. Those that survive into adulthood might even eventually return to the same beach to lay eggs of their own.
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Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center
This Topsail-area sea turtle hospital is among the largest on the East Coast. Its mission is to rescue, care for, and release sick and injured sea turtles. Check the website for tour hours, visit the facility to befriend the sea turtles currently being nursed back to health and then grab a souvenir from the gift shop. Keep an eye out for when the center releases its rehabilitated turtles — some weighing hundreds of pounds — back to the ocean, a heartwarming experience for all who partake.
North Carolina Aquariums
Sea turtles are highly visible at all three North Carolina Aquariums, which are also involved in rescue, rehabilitation and release. The Aquarium on Roanoke Island, located on the Outer Banks, features a Sea Turtle Rescue exhibit. Visitors to the Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores on the Crystal Coast can follow the journey of loggerhead sea turtles — and even speak with one — in the Loggerhead Odyssey exhibit. In the Wilmington area, The Aquarium at Fort Fisher features turtle exhibits and Turtle Talks at the adjacent Fort Fisher State Recreational Area.
Bald Head Island Conservancy
Residents of this nature-loving barrier island have watched over sea turtles since 1980. Today, through the Bald Head Island Conservancy, visitors have a unique range of opportunities to learn about turtle activity on one of the highest-density nesting beaches within the loggerhead’s northern range. Among the possibilities are Sea Turtle 101 classes and nighttime Turtle Walks during summer months (membership required). You can even Adopt-a-Nest or Adopt-a-Mom, where you'll receive personal invites to nest excavations and much more.
Turtle Talks
Want to learn more about the sea turtles that call North Carolina’s coast home? During summer, several coastal communities host free Turtle Talks led by local conservation groups. These casual sessions offer insights into hatchling behavior, nesting season and ways to keep the beaches safe. With Turtle Talks in Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Holden Beach, Ocean Isle Beach and Sunset Beach, it’s a laid-back way to connect with wildlife and leave the shore a little better than you found it.