If you are a Caswell Beach Turtle Watch supporter or a sea turtle follower, by now you likely know that our 2025 sea turtle season has bee unusual in a number of ways. Across many southeast beaches, it has been a much lower nest count season. The mamas are clearly taking a break.
Almost all beaches have been challenged with the damages and losses from Hurricane Erin. It remains to be seen what of our remaining nests will thrive.
But on the positive and exciting side of our sea turtle news is the variety of nests we have had this year. Caswell Beach generally has only Loggerhead sea turtles. We’ve been blessed with visits from an occasional Kemp’s Ridley. We even had a Leatherback lay a nest in recent years.
This year, we are pleased to count not only Loggerheads, but Kemp’s Ridley and a Green Turtle Nest in our inventories for 2025! We share a few images of each below.
In other news, we had one nest boil on Day 52 of incubation post Hurricane Erin. That nest had only minimal over wash from the tide. At inventory, the sand in the nest cavity was still found to be very damp, dense and heavy. This may be the conditions of our remaining nests. We will be thankful for any hatchlings that are able to continue development and make it out successfully!
**This conservation work for protected sea turtles on Caswell Beach is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (ES Permit 25ST03).
Please consider donating to our efforts as we build up our necessary resources for the season.
You can donate at Caswell Beach Turtle Watch Donations.