We were BLESSED again today with a daytime nester!!! Special thanks to the Carter Family for calling to let us know! This time it was a Kemp’s Ridley! Kemp’s are the smallest, rarest and most endangered of all the sea turtles. They typically lay their nests during the day. She was finished with her whole process in just about 30 minutes and left us with 104 eggs! We relocated the eggs from the high tide line to the dune line for safety. We had our first Kemp’s nests 2 years ago (2 nests). We wonder if it is the same Mama?! Maybe our DNA Testing will tell us!
Please note that the photographer was at least 25 feet away from the turtle at all times. Pictures are zoomed or cropped.
**This conservation work for protected sea turtles on Caswell Beach is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (ES Permit 23ST03).