Sea turtle nests washed away as Hurricane Erin moves off coast

SURF CITY, NC (WWAY) — Aside from strong rip currents, Hurricane Erin is expected to have little impact on people in the Cape Fear—but the same can’t be said for sea turtles. 

The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Surf City says many of the nests on the island have been washed away by the rising tide. 

The center says of the 90 nests on the island, around half already hatched—but for the ones that that haven’t, very few will survive. 

Deputy Conservation Director Terry Meyer says because of protection laws, the center can’t move the nests. 

All they can do after the fact is monitor the beach and pick up any debris that’s washed away. 

“We’ve had over wash for the last couple of days Now this is bad tonight, and tomorrow will probably be worse,” Meyers said Wednesday evening. “This kind of water, multiple times, it’d be pretty difficult to survive.” 

Meyer says if you see a sea turtle nest being washed away, you can contact the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center at 910-329-0222