Sea Turtle Program

View Sea Turtle Protection Program's - Latest News of the Season!

Visit the EI Sea Turtle Patrol's website.

Fun for all! Sea Turtle Word Search! (PDF) and Beach Scavenger Hunt! (PDF)

Emerald Isle Sea Turtle Patrol: 2022 Mandatory Spring Training Sessions

No need to sign up for any specific meeting - just show up to the meeting and sign in.

There are up to 3 mandatory sessions you must attend. Within each session, there are several meeting options for you to pick from. You only need to attend one meeting per session.

All meetings will be in the Emerald Isle Community Center, at 203 Leisure Lane.

Session 1: Orientation

Everyone must attend one of these 3 sessions offered.

Monday, March 28 from 5 to 7 pm
Wednesday, March 30 from 5 to 7 pm
Saturday, April 2 from 10 am to 1 pm

Session 2: Crawl ID and Nesting Response

All walkers must attend one of the 2 sessions offered:

Tuesday, April 19 from 5 to 7 pm
Monday, April 25 from 1 to 3 pm

Session 3: Nest Sitter

Training times will be determined later. All Nest Sitters must attend.

If you plan on walking and sitting during the 2022 season, you must attend one meeting from each of the three sessions.

Check our Website or our Facebook page: Emerald Isle Sea Turtle Patrol for changes or more specific information including dates of Nest Sitting training.

Sea Turtle Entering OceanMay 1st through November 15th is Sea Turtle Nesting & Hatching Season in Emerald Isle

Read General Sea Turtle Nesting Information (PDF) as provided by Turtle Protection Program Coordinator Dale Baquer.

All updates provided courtesy of Turtle Protection Program Coordinator

Program Coordinator

Dale Baquer
Email Dale Baquer
Phone: 252-646-8292

Program Writer/Photographer

Valerie Rohrig
Email Valerie Rohrig

The Turtle Protection Program is a Non-Profit Organization, Donations can be made to: Emerald Isle Sea Turtle Patrol
312 W Firetower Road
Peletier, NC 28584

Turtle Tracks with Nest

Turtle Tracks with Nest 1

Turtle Tracks with Nest 2


False Crawls

Turtle False Crawl 1Turtle False Crawl 2











How to Help

Please help by observing the following:

  • Fill in all holes that your children dig (mother turtles can get stuck and people walking at night can be seriously injured)
  • Remove tents, toys and beach gear overnight
  • Keep outside lights off at night (they disturb nesting mother turtles and distract hatching baby turtles toward the light but away from the ocean which is where they need to go)
  • Pick up trash, especially plastic bags (turtles think they are jellyfish which is their main food source and eat them and get sick)
  • Fireworks are illegal in North Carolina (the noise keeps mother turtles from coming on shore to nest and disturbs baby turtles during hatching)
  • Call the Emerald Isle Police Department at 252-354-2021 if you see a nesting or hatching turtle or anyone disturbing a marked turtle nest area
  • No flashlights or flash photography: If you see a nesting or hatching sea turtle please stay quiet, sit down and enjoy the show!