Outer Banks Forever, the official nonprofit partner of the Outer Banks national parks, has opened its annual Adopt a Sea Turtle Nest program for the sea turtle nesting season at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, which occurs from May to October each year.
The Adopt A Sea Turtle Nest program launched in 2020 to support projects and programs that protect and enhance Cape Hatteras National Seashore now and for future generations. In 2021, the program raised more than $10,000 to support Cape Hatteras National Seashore, and it was recently recognized by the Public Lands Alliance for Outstanding Public Engagement at its annual awards ceremony.
“The Adopt a Sea Turtle Nest program is a fun way for people to learn more about these popular island visitors and the work our national park staff does every day to help protect them. It’s also fun for us to send updates to each person who adopts a nest, particularly sharing the number of sea turtle hatchlings that make their way out of each nest,” said Jessica Barnes, Director of Outer Banks Forever. “It’s a great way to feel connected to these amazing animals while also supporting Cape Hatteras National Seashore.”
You can symbolically adopt an active sea turtle nest at Cape Hatteras National Seashore with a tax-deductible donation of $100 or more. With your donation, you will receive an official 2022 adoption certificate and updates on your specific nest including sea turtle species, number of eggs, number of hatchlings and more once your nest hatches.
Give — Make your tax-deductible donation online at www.obxforever.org/adoptaseaturtlenest or by mail to Outer Banks Forever at P.O. Box 1635, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948, with “Adopt A Sea Turtle Nest” in the memo.
Get your nest — You will be assigned an active sea turtle nest and will receive an adoption certificate by mail along with initial information about your unique nest including general location and sea turtle species. Please note: As sea turtles are beginning to arrive this month, it may take two to four weeks to be assigned a nest.
Wait for your nest to hatch — When your nest hatches, you will receive a personalized update with detailed information about your nest including where it was located and the number of hatchlings that made their way to the ocean.
There are a limited number of nests each year and they are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, so you are encouraged to reserve your nest early.
You can learn more about the sea turtles that visit the Outer Banks by watching Outer Banks Forever’s interview with Meaghan Johnson, Chief of Resource Management and Science for the Outer Banks national parks, or by reading more here.
Please note: Nature belongs to all of us – no individual or group that participates in this program may claim ownership of a sea turtle nest, eggs or hatchlings. For the safety of the sea turtles, your exact nest location will not be shared until after it has hatched.
