MUST SEE: Turtles in vandalized nest helped to sea

OAK ISLAND, NC (WWAY) — Some of the turtles from one of the vandalized nests at Oak Island are now home in the ocean

It was a race to the sea Tuesday as 86 baby sea turtles were excavated.

Bystanders cheered on the sea turtles as they were guided to the shore line.

Kathy Wycoff has been volunteering for eight years, but one part always reminds her how special this moment is.

“The boil,” Wycoff said. “Everybody will tell you that. There is nothing more exciting than watching a hundred and some turtles come out of the ground for no particular reason except they were down there.”

Not all of the eggs in this nest hatched Tuesday, so a second excavation will take place in the future.

The Oak Island Sea Turtle Protection Program says this has been a record year for sea turtle nests at Oak Island.