Cape Lookout National Seashore
2003 Sea Turtle Monitoring Program

The CLNS Sea Turtle Monitoring Program is a program run by park biologists Jeff Cordes & Michael Rikard that began in 1976. Since 1984 Cape Lookout has conducted daytime monitoring to document strandings, protect nest sites, relocate nests in danger of being flooded and protect hatchlings. Many thanks to Jeff, Mike, other park staff and volunteers for all their hard work in helping to protect nesting sea turtles. The following is a condensed version of their 2003 report. The complete report may be obtained by contacting them at the park.

Nesting Results:

The first recorded nesting activity in 2003 was on May 7 and the last on August 27, for a 112 day nesting season. A total of 305 activities were documented of which there were 161 nests, 15 digs, and 129 crawls. The number of nests found in the park in 2003 was above the annual average of 131 nests. The greatest concentration of nests in the park occurred south of the lighthouse. This area accounted for 43% of the nests on that island. Two nests were found of the soundside beach of Shackleford Banks at Beaufort Inlet. A Kemp's Ridley nest was found on South Core Banks. (Photos) This was the first documented Kemp's Ridley nest in the park and only the second record for NC. Two other nests on South Core Banks were possible green turtle nests but could not be confirmed because the nests were washed away before hatching.

The Cape Lookout Studies Program staff tagged 2 nesting females in 2003, both near Cape Point. A female loggerhead that had been tagged at Bald Head Island in 1991 was identified on the beach at Cape Point on June 22.

Hatching Results:

The last nest was excavated on November 15. The average clutch size was 119 eggs. It took an average of 65 days for nest to incubate. 61% of the eggs produced hatchlings that made it out of the nest, the highest for any one nest being 100% and lowest 0%. Twenty-one nests were washed away with the numbers of eggs unknown and raccoons dug up two nests before they were excavated. Flooding before and during Hurricane Isabel had a great impact on the 2003 nesting season. A total of 60 nests were flooded by the ocean. Forty-five nests were washed away, were buried or failed to hatch due to flooding.

Predation and Human Disturbances:

Four nests lost eggs or hatchlings to ghost crabs. Raccoon predation was recorded for nine nests. Raccoons dug into six nests despite wire screens. The raccoons reached through the screen to get at the eggs on the top of the nests. Root invasion destroyed eggs or trapped hatchlings in two nests. Thirty-nine violations of vehicle closures for turtle nests were documented.