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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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!!!!!!!!!
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 |
# 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 |
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 |
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 |
