With Voice of the Outer Banks On November 4, 2024

Dead Leatherback trapped in Corolla’s 4-wheel drive area. (Photo: NEST (Endangered Sea Turtle Network))

This Leatherback was tagged by NOAA in Massachusetts in late summer 2023. (Source: NEST (Endangered Sea Turtle Network)

At noon on Monday, November 4, NEST (Network for Endangered Sea Turtles) released this announcement.

As you know, part of NEST’s work is to intervene in sea turtles, some alive and some dead, that wash ashore. When they are alive and need help, they are usually taken to the NC Aquarium at the Roanoke Island STAR Center. Even when they die, NEST volunteers compile a report on them (including their size, condition, and location where they are stranded); This contributes to our ongoing collection of information about sea turtles.

There was a dead Leatherback stranded in the 4-wheel drive area of ​​the Corolla recently. Leatherbacks (the largest species of sea turtles and the only species without a hard shell) like deep water and don’t appear very often in the OBX. This Leatherback appears to have been tagged by NOAA in Massachusetts in late summer 2023. As you can see from the path below, this sea turtle had quite a journey before the tracking device stopped transmitting in March of this year.

Remember, if you visit the beach, never go near a sea turtle or shine a light on them at night.

And remember, if you are north of the Outer Banks and accidentally trip a sea turtle, see a sea turtle on the beach, or crawl in the sand, please call NEST HOTLINE IMMEDIATELY at 252-441-8622.

To learn more about NEST (Endangered Sea Turtle Network) or to donate websiteand follow them Facebook.