Public invited to sea turtle nest inventory at Ocean Isle Beach tonight

OCEAN ISLE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — Residents and visitors are invited to attend a public sea turtle nest inventory at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, at the Newport Street beach access in Ocean Isle Beach.

The Ocean Isle Beach Sea Turtle Protection Organization is inviting the public to attend the inventory at Nest 12, where volunteers will examine the nest after hatchlings have emerged. Nest inventories help volunteers collect important data on hatchling success and ensure any remaining live hatchlings are safely released.

To help protect the sea turtles and ensure the inventory runs safely, attendees are asked to:

• Stay on the dry sand and remain behind designated areas.
• Avoid using flash photography or videography.
• Follow all instructions from sea turtle volunteers.
• Give volunteers and hatchlings plenty of space while they work.

The organization thanked the Town of Ocean Isle Beach and the Ocean Isle Beach Police Department for assisting with the event and helping keep participants and wildlife safe.

The nest inventory is being conducted under a permit issued by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.