100 sea turtle nests discovered on Topsail Island during 2026 nesting season

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — 100 sea turtle nests have been discovered on Topsail Island so far during the 2026 nesting season.

The Topsail Turtle Project, which is program of the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, has been sharing several photos on social media of the nests.

The program works to preserve and protect sea turtles and their nests along the 26 miles of coastline on the island.

Volunteers recently discovered the first Green Sea Turtle nest of the season. The group said these have been rarer on the island than the Loggerhead Sea Turtle nests.

Several visitors and volunteers have helped to discover 100 sea turtle nests so far this season.

That’s up from last year, when 91 nests were found on the island in total.

The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center said nesting season lasts from May 1 though October 31.