Holden Beach Sea Turtle Program

Sea Turtles and their nests are well known on Holden Beach. Each year many mother's return to Holden Beach, lay their eggs and return to the ocean. We are very fortunate to have a wonderful caring group who looks after the nests and helps lead the new arrivals to the ocean.

Holden Beach Turtle Watch Program offers these interesting facts:

•Sea Turtles Predate Dinosaurs and have existed for over 200 million years.
•Sea Turtles have lived to be over 100 years old in captivity.
•Sea Turtles love to eat jelly fish, sponges, algae, sea grasses and crustaceans.
•A mature female turtle (20-30 years) will return to her natal beach every 2-3 years
to lay 1 to 7 nests with an average of 4 nests.
•The temperature of the sand determines the sex of the hatchlings (hotter sand-more females-cooler sand-more males)
•Bright house lights that face the ocean will confuse nesting mothers and hatchlings.
•The population of Sea Turtles are threatened by pollution, poaching, and habitat loss.
•There are 8 species of Sea Turtles. 5 visit North Carolina: The Loggerhead, Green,
Kemp's, Ridley, and Leatherback.
•Mature Loggerhead Turtles weigh up to 400 pounds
•A Fine of up to $100,000 and or 1 year in prison is the penalty for harassing a Sea Turtle or disturbing its nest.