Sea Turtle Nests
Outer Banks, NC

We do not publish the locations of nests. This is not only for the protection of the nest site but also to help manage good relationships with our neighbors. Also, when hatchlings emerge is up to Mother Nature. Average incubation period is two months so you can look at the date a nest was laid and get an idea when hatchlings will emerge.  Often our nests are not near public access points and if the location is posted, we risk having people parking and blocking traffic flow in the community causing frustration with our activities. So while we can’t post the nest locations, we do encourage visitors to walk the beach around sunset when volunteers typically set up at soon-to-emerge nests. If they come across a nest being monitored, we love to have visitors sit down and join us!

The 2025 nesting season has begun! Scroll through photos of them below.

Each nest is identified by number so once you visit a nest note the nest number and you can check on its status in the chart below.