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Nesting Sea Turtle Severely Injured on Cape Hatteras Beach
Monday, 22 August 2016 06:40

On the morning of August 21, National Park Service staff found a Green Sea Turtle severely injured near a nest site. It was evident that the turtle had been injured by a vehicle driving on the beach. The turtle was too damaged for medical attention and was euthanized on the scene. We would like to remind all off road vehicle drivers to be attentive to potential nesting wildlife and carefully avoid them. Incidents like this can hurt responsible beach driver's access to areas in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and could set back hard fought policy changes implemented last year.  If you have information that could help NPS find the person who did this please contact them. Information to contact them can be found in the following NPS Press Release.

Outer Banks Group

News Release - Cape Hatteras National Seashore

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 21, 2016         16-050

Contact: Boone Vandzura, 252-475-8307

 Nesting Sea Turtle Found Severely Injured on Cape Hatteras National Seashore Beach

On the morning of Sunday, August 21, Cape Hatteras National Seashore personnel found a severely injured sea turtle on the beach approximately 0.66 miles north of Ramp 32. The sea turtle, identified as a threatened species Green sea turtle (chelonia mydas), is believed to have come onto the beach some time in the evening, or night, of August 20 in order to lay a nest in the sand. Turtle tracks led from the ocean to the nesting site approximately twenty feet above the high tide line in an off-road vehicle travel area. The turtle had begun to lay eggs into a nest dug into the sand when it is believed, based on significant evidence found at the scene, that a motor vehicle struck and ran over the nesting turtle. The incident was not reported by the involved party.

 The injuries to the sea turtle were so severe that the turtle had to be euthanized by National Park Service staff. Nine sea turtle eggs were found immediately adjacent to the injured turtle. Biological technicians working at the scene were able to salvage an additional 172 eggs which were deposited in a nest site nearby in hope that these eggs will eventually hatch in a natural state.

 National Park Service rangers are working with federal, state, and local authorities to understand the circumstances surrounding this incident. Anyone with information that may help determine the circumstances and events that led to the severe injuries of this sea turtle are asked to contact the Dare County Community Crimeline. For more information, please contact: http://darecommunitycrimeline.org or call 252-473-3111 or 800-745-2746.

Superintendent David Hallac stated, "this is a tragic and unfortunate incident. We ask that all people utilize caution and look carefully for nesting wildlife when enjoying the Seashore's beaches.” Visitors to Cape Hatteras National Seashore are reminded that sea turtles, while predominately nesting during nighttime hours, may be present on Seashore beaches at any hour of the day. The maximum speed limit in off-road vehicle areas is 15 miles per hour. Nighttime driving restrictions are in place during summer months to protect nesting sea turtles. All off-road vehicles must be off of Seashore beaches no later than 9:00 pm.

 

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Outer Banks Group  |  National Park Service  |  US Department of the Interior

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Saturday, 31 May 2014 06:46

 

 Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Resource Management Field Summary for May 28, 2014

*All numbers are preliminary and the data will be reviewed before they are finalized.*

 

 

 Piping Plover Summary:

 

 Location

# Nests to Date

# Active Nests

# Active Broods

# Fledglings

Bodie Island

0

0

0

0

Cape Point

6

2

4

0

South Beach

0

0

0

0

North Ocracoke

2

1

0

0

South Ocracoke

2

1

0

0

Total

10

4

4

0

 

 

 Wilson’s Plover Summary:

 

 Location

# Nests to Date

# Active Nests

# Active Broods

# Fledglings

Bodie Island

0

0

0

0

Cape Point

0

0

0

0

South Beach

0

0

0

0

North Ocracoke

1

1

0

0

South Ocracoke

2

2

0

0

Total

3

3

0

0

 

 

 American Oystercatcher Summary:

 

 Location

# Pairs

# Nests to Date

# Active Nests

# Active Broods

# Fledglings

Bodie Island

1

1

1

0

0

Green Island

3

3

3

1

0

Hatteras Island

14

18

7

3

0

Ocracoke Island

 9

10

6

2

0

Total

27

32

14

5

0

 

 

 Colonial Waterbirds:

 

 Location

# Active Colonies to Date

# Currently Active Colonies

Bodie Island

1

1

Green Island

1

1

Hatteras Island

10

7

Ocracoke Island

2

2

Total

14

11

 

 

 Sea Turtle Nests and False Crawls:

 

 

 Location

# Nests

# False Crawls

# Nests Hatched to Date

Bodie Island

0

0

0

Green Island

0

0

0

Hatteras Island

0

2

0

Ocracoke Island

0

0

0

Total

0

2

0

 

Summary Mileage Table –

As of 5/28/2014

Bodie Island Area 5.74

Open to ORVs 2.19

Temporarily Closed for Resource Protection 0.37

Open to Pedestrians 3.18

 

 

Hatteras Island 40.46

Open to ORVs 8.83

Temporarily Closed for Resource Protection 8.35

Open to Pedestrians 23.28

 

Ocracoke Island 17.87

Open to ORVs 7.02

Temporarily Closed for Resource Protection 3.92

Open to Pedestrians 6.93

 

Total Ocean & Inlet Shoreline 64.07

 

Total Miles Open to ORVs 18.04

 

Total Miles Temporarily Closed for Resource Protection 12.64

 

Total Miles Open to Pedestrians (Only) 33.40

 

Total Miles Open to Pedestrians (Includes ORV areas) 51.43

 

Open To Sum of Mileage

Ramp Accessibility –

As of 5/7/2014

Ramp                     Open To:

ORVs                                     Pedestrians

01                           No                                           Yes

02                           No                                           Yes

04                          Yes                                          Yes

23                            No                                          No

27                           Yes                                        Yes

30                           Yes                                        Yes

34                             No                                         No

38                           Yes                                         Yes

43                           Yes                                         Yes (Opened today – chiks predated)

44                           NO                                          Yes

45                           No                                          Yes

49                           Yes                                        Yes

55                           Yes                                         Yes

59                           Yes                                        Yes

67                           Yes                                         Yes

68                           No                                           Yes

70                           Yes                                         Yes

72                           Yes                                         Yes

Ramp by Ramp open access for ORV traffic (Updated 05/29/2014)

(Bodie Island Total-2.2 miles open)

Ramp 4 NORTH                                           1.85 mi. OPEN

Ramp 4 South                                               .35    mi. open                            

 

 (Hatteras Total – 9.3 miles open) 

Ramp 23                                              CLOSED Til 11-1-14

Ramp 27North                                           1.20 MILES open  

Ramp 27 to Ramp 30                                      CLOSED

Ramp 30 South                                           2.1 miles open          

Ramp 34                                                    CLOSED

Ramp 38 South                                           1.50 miles open

Ramp 43                                    Cul-da-sak ..10 miles open                   

Ramp 44 SOUTH   (You can walk)              CLOSED

CAPE POINT -                                               CLOSED

Ramp 45                                                     CLOSED

Ramp 44 shows being open to the road behind the dunes, but it goes “NOWHERE” and should not be listed as access. You cannot even walk to the south beach from the area open for diving.

Ramp 49 East                                              1.7 miles open

Ramp 49 West to Frisco Village Line               1.1 miles open

Ramp 55 West beach shoreline                      1.6 miles open

Ramp 55 Interdunal (Pole) Road with small sound-side access behind Coast Guard Base, Spur Road and Cable Crossing but this is not beach access                                       2.9 miles open

Ocracoke Total – 6.5miles open

Ramp 59 North                                                 CLOSED

Ramp 59 South                                                 2.85 miles open

Ramp 67 North                                                  0.4 miles open

Ramp 67 South                                                 0.7 miles open

Ramp 68                                                   CLOSED\

Ramp 70 North                                                  0.4 miles

Ramp 70 TO RAMP 72                                         1.7 miles open

Ramp 72 South                                                   0.45 miles open

These are rough numbers only.  Some of these miles are too narrow to drive safely.

TOTAL ORV ACCESS CAPE HATTERAS NATIONAL SEASHORE

18.0 MILES OPEN

Per NPS Google Map!!!!!!!!!                                     

 
 
Thursday, 16 August 2012 11:49

Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Resource Management Field Summary August 15, 2012

*All numbers are preliminary and the data will be reviewed before they are finalized.*

Piping and Wilson’s plover breeding seasons are now complete and therefore will not be reported anymore this season, however, unfledged American oystercatcher chicks and active colonial waterbird colonies still require closures to remain in place at many of the spits, Cape Point/South Beach.

American Oystercatcher Summary:

Location

# Pairs

# Nests to Date

# Active Nests

# Active
Broods

# Fledged

Bodie Island

1

2

0

0

0

Green Island

1

2

0

0

0

Hatteras Island

15

21

0

1

14

Ocracoke Island

5

6

0

0

0

Total

22

31

0

1

14

Colonial Waterbirds:

Location

# Colonies to Date

# Currently Active Colonies

Bodie Island

1

0

Green Island

1

1

Hatteras Island

13

3

Ocracoke Island

3

1

Total

18

5

Sea Turtle Nests and False Crawls:

Location

# Nests

# False Crawls

# Nests Excavated to Date

Bodie Island

2

1

0

Hatteras Island

164

123

43

Ocracoke Island

53

38

13

Total

219

162

56
 
Thursday, 09 August 2012 13:00

Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Resource Management Field Summary August 8, 2012

*All numbers are preliminary and the data will be reviewed before they are finalized.*

Piping and Wilson’s plover breeding seasons are now complete, however, unfledged American oystercatcher chicks and active colonial waterbird colonies still require closures to remain in place at many of the spits, Cape Point/South Beach.

Piping Plover Summary:

Location

# Nests to Date

# Active Nests

# Active Broods

# Fledged

Bodie Island

2

0

0

0

Cape Point

11

0

0

11

South Beach

1

0

0

0

North Ocracoke

2

0

0

0

South Ocracoke

6

0

0

0

Total

22

0

0

11


Wilson Plover Summary:

 

Location

# Nests to Date

# Active Nests

# Active Broods

#

Fledged

Bodie Island

0

0

0

0

Cape Point

1

0

0

0

South Beach

0

0

0

0

North Ocracoke

1

0

0

0

South Ocracoke

2

0

0

4

Total

4

0

0

4


American Oystercatcher Summary:

 

Location

# Pairs

# Nests to Date

# Active Nests

# Active Broods

# Fledged

Bodie Island

1

2

0

0

0

Green Island

1

2

0

0

0

Hatteras Island

15

21

0

1

14

Ocracoke Island

5

6

0

0

0

Total

22

31

0

1

14


Colonial Waterbirds:
\

 

Location

# Colonies to Date

# Currently Active Colonies

Bodie Island

1

1

Green Island

1

1

Hatteras Island

13

4

Ocracoke Island

3

2

Total

18

8



Sea Turtle Nests and False Crawls:

 

Location

# Nests

# False Crawls

# Nests Excavated to Date

Bodie Island

2

1

0

Hatteras Island

159

121

29

Ocracoke Island

53

38

6


 Total

214

160

35

 
Thursday, 02 August 2012 13:57

Resource Management Field Summary August 1, 2012

*All numbers are preliminary and the data will be reviewed before they are finalized.*

Piping Plover Summary: Wilson’s Plover Summary:

Location

# Nests to Date

# Active Nests

# Active Broods

# Fledged

Bodie Island

2

0

0

0

Cape Point

11

0

UNK

11

South Beach

1

0

0

0

North Ocracoke

2

0

0

0

South Ocracoke

6

0

0

0

Total

22

0

UNK

11
 
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