Call For Emergency Action To Save Sea Turtle Nests From Destruction

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Hurricane Erin destroyed sea turtle nests while laws blocked rescue efforts—call on leaders to allow emergency protections now.

Call For Emergency Action To Save Sea Turtle Nests From Destruction

Hurricane Erin never struck land with devastating force, but its impact on North Carolina’s sea turtles was catastrophic. Along Topsail Island, more than half of 43 loggerhead nests were destroyed. Eggs sat in standing water or were swept away before hatchlings could emerge1. On Emerald Isle, eight of the ten remaining nests were lost, erasing months of protection and monitoring by volunteers2.

Nests Overwashed and Drowned

Teams with N.E.S.T. reported that nearly every Northern Outer Banks nest was overwashed by the storm’s surge. Some clutches were buried under new sand while others remained saturated, conditions fatal for embryos that cannot survive prolonged submersion3. Even when storms miss communities, they can wipe out entire generations of turtles.

The Odds Are Already Slim

Conservationists remind us that only one in a thousand hatchlings survives to adulthood. Erin’s destruction magnifies those odds, turning beaches into graveyards for unborn turtles. In Florida, the same storm inundated at least 23 nests, while a single unleashed dog killed 23 hatchlings struggling toward the ocean4. Every loss carries weight when survival is so rare.

Why Laws Must Bend in Extreme Cases

North Carolina law restricts relocation of eggs before hatching. While designed to protect natural processes, the rule ties the hands of trained conservationists when storms are imminent. The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center has warned that many of Topsail’s remaining nests were washed away because no action could legally be taken5. Compassionate exceptions would allow certified teams to intervene during emergencies, giving vulnerable eggs a chance instead of certain destruction.

Take Action for a Better Future

Sea turtles are a vital part of our coastal ecosystems, and their decline reflects the fragility of our environment. By urging Governor Roy Cooper and state officials to allow temporary exceptions to current protections, we can safeguard future generations of turtles from preventable loss. These actions will ensure a healthier balance between protecting natural processes and responding to climate-driven storms.

Sign the petition today to demand action and protect the future of North Carolina’s sea turtles.

More on this issue:

  1. Hallie Golden, ABC News (23 August 2025), "Hurricane Erin never hit land or caused major damage, but endangered turtle nests weren't so lucky."
  2. Doc Louallen, ABC News (21 August 2025), "Hurricane Erin destroys sea turtle nests along North Carolina beach as volunteers scramble to save remaining eggs."
  3. Brian Tress, Outer Banks Voice (23 August 2025), "Erin leaves most turtle nests on the Northern OBX overwashed but intact."
  4. Andrew Wulfeck, FOX Weather (August 2025), "Unleashed dog kills nearly 2 dozen newly born sea turtles in Florida."
  5. Annette Weston, WUNC/PRE (22 August 2025), "Hurricane Erin's high surf likely washed out most sea turtle nests that hadn't yet hatched."

The Petition

To the Governor of North Carolina, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, and the North Carolina General Assembly,

Sea turtles along North Carolina’s coast face increasingly harsh conditions as hurricanes and king tides overlap with nesting and hatching season. Current laws rightly protect the natural hatching process, but under extraordinary circumstances—such as when nests are imminently threatened by storm surge or prolonged flooding—these same protections prevent conservation teams from acting to save eggs that would otherwise be lost.

We call on state leaders to issue a temporary exception to existing regulations, allowing certified conservation organizations, with proper oversight, to relocate at-risk nests in times of extreme weather. This compassionate measure recognizes the urgency of protecting a threatened species while respecting the intent of existing laws.

Showing humanity in this moment means preserving not just eggs, but the future generations of turtles that define our state’s coastal heritage. By acting now, you can ensure a healthier balance between natural processes and responsible stewardship, creating a better future for wildlife, coastal communities, and all who depend on thriving ecosystems.

We respectfully urge you to act with compassion, foresight, and urgency.

Sincerely,

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