2 Sea Turtle Nests in North Carolina Found Damaged, Feds Offer $1500 Reward for Arrest of Culprits

Two destroyed sea turtle nests were discovered by officials in North Carolina, prompting them to offer a $1500 reward for information leading to the capture of the perpetrators.

$1500 Reward for Identifying Culprits

A sea turtle nest was harmed, and the Ocean Isle Beach Sea Turtle Protection Organization is looking for the person responsible.

On Thursday morning, OIBSTPO volunteers discovered a smashed sea turtle nest along with hundreds of beer cans strewn across the beach.

OIBSTPO Island Coordinator Deb Allen reports that this is the third nest that has suffered damage in the past week. Two of the nests perished. She said it is quite rare for individuals to harm nests.

Allen voiced her displeasure at how many other factors, including predators, pollution, and climate change, are working against turtles. According to Allen, the turtles being in danger while they're still incubating in a nest is equivalent to a puppy being trampled on.

The cash reward for information that results in an arrest is $1,500. Additionally, they are providing a prize for information on anyone seen harming a nest. The endangered species legislation protects sea turtle nests. The penalty for endangering an endangered species is a $50,000 fine and up to a year in jail, WECT News 6 reports.

Locals with any information are urged to call either the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission or Ocean Isle Beach Police Department.

Allen claims that they have received several images and videos of the alleged perpetrators of the crime. She claims they want to pursue legal action to the utmost degree possible, WWAY3 reports.

Sea Turtles

On the North Carolina coast, the nesting season lasts from mid-May until August. The main visitors are loggerhead turtles, however occasionally nests are also built by leatherback, green, and Kemp's Ridley sea turtles. The 330 miles of sandy beaches in North Carolina that face the ocean are ideal for nesting. Each nest contains about 120 eggs the size of ping pong balls.

Except for their distinguishing footprints, females conceal the nest by digging a chamber that is 1-2 feet deep and covering the eggs with sand. In one season, a female turtle may lay 4-7 nests and return every few weeks. The eggs hatch after around 60 days of incubation, however, some nests may require up to 100 days, according to Oak-Island NC.

Several government organizations, including the US National Park Service, US Fish & Wildlife Service, US Army Corps of Engineers, US Marine Corps, and the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation, along with the University of North Carolina - Wilmington, are in charge of administering nesting surveys and nest protection measures in the State.

Numerous individuals and private groups are also actively working to conserve sea turtles, including some very significant volunteer activities near Bogue Banks. Nesting survey information is used to maximize reproduction, create protective restrictions, monitor populations, and make management choices.