A false crawl is where the turtle comes ashore, but for what ever
reasons, doesn't make a nest/lay eggs and returned to the ocean.
The Sea Turtle
Protection Program began in 1989 and rides the beach everyday from
May 1 - mid August locating sea turtle nests. We relocate any nests
that are in danger of being lost due to erosion. Nests begin hatching
in mid July - October, typically 55-90 days after the nest has been
laid.
Our nests have
an average size of 130 eggs and the largest nest ever recorded contained
185 eggs. A nesting female can lay 4-7 nests during the nesting season
of May-August. Oak Island has an average of seventy nests per year.
The largest year ever recorded was one hundred and ten nests.
A historic event
occurred on Oak Island in 1992. A Kemp's Ridley sea turtle, which
usually nest in Mexico, came ashore and laid a nest on our island.
We released 47 hatchlings back to the sea. People came from all over
the world to experience a part of history. This turtle is the most
endangered species in the world. There are less than one thousand
left.
These turtles
will come back and nest on the beach they were born on in 10-15 years.
This is exciting news since this is the tenth year for our hatchlings.
So help us keep a watch for this amazing piece of history.
Oak Island's
nesting season has begun with our first false crawl logged in on May
10th.
Click
here to learn more about the Oak Island Sea Turtle Protection Program.
The Oak Island
Recreation Department also has an Ocean Education Center with a Turtle
Display.Click
here to learn more about the Recreation Departments programs or
call us at 910-278-5518
