From our news services
The Cape Hatteras National Seashore has reported the first sea turtle nest of the season discovered the morning of May 12 on Ocracoke, and which is a leatherback turtle nest.
Leatherback sea turtle nests typically account for a small percentage of the hundreds of sea turtle nests found along Seashore beaches, the Seashore said in an email.
Most nests are of loggerhead turtles.
In 2025, no leatherback nests were recorded. There were two nests documented in 2024, and one nest was recorded in both 2023 and 2022.
Sea turtles lay eggs on the Outer Banks beaches starting in May into August. The incubation period is generally 50 to 60 days.
