*All data subject to change.
For the second season in a row, Bald Head Island saw below-average sea turtle nesting numbers – the lowest since the 2017 and 2018 seasons, when the island recorded 40 and 52 nests. Encouragingly, the turtles that did return for the 2025 season were thriving with over 80% hatch and emergence success until Hurricane Erin passed in early August.
The STPT patrolled the beaches of BHI for 185 days/nights (40 dawn, 76 partial nights, and 69 full nights) from 1 May to 5 November, observing 58 nests, of which 20 (34.4%) were relocated, and 72 false crawls. The first activity (a false crawl) was recorded on 13 May, with the last (a nest) recorded on 12 August. All activities were attributed to loggerheads (Caretta caretta), with the exception of a single late-season false crawl identified as belonging to a green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas). At least 21 genetically distinct individuals (20 loggerheads and 1 green) were responsible for the 130 activities observed on BHI. The STPT also observed the return of 4 legacy turtles (Sloopy, Strawberry, The Lovely Mrs. Bites, and Willine) and assigned 2 new legacy turtles (yet to be named). The first hatching event was observed on 15 July, while the last nest was excavated on 5 November. The average incubation time for the 58 nests was 57.4 days. Approximately 7,168 eggs were laid on BHI, with an estimated 4,760 hatchlings making it to the water.
Figure 1. The Conservancy’s 2025 Sea Turtle Conservation and Nighttime Tagging Team (Left-Right) Technician – Emma Phillips; Interns Lexi Witherspoon, Julia Serra, Bette Kupferberg, & Mary Albert.
Figure 2. UUT611 exiting the corral after being outfitted with a satellite tag.
Mean hatch success was 68.5%, while mean emerge success was 64.4%. The low nest success could be attributed to the combined impacts of Hurricane Erin and an abnormally high tide event that pushed an exceptional amount of water onto our beaches. Although no nests were completely lost this season, 22 were impacted by inundation resulting from the combination of weather events. Five nesting mothers laid 5 nests, while our most productive mom was KKD874, who laid 6 nests with 765 eggs that produced 475 hatchlings. Six individuals were responsible for 53.4% of the nests laid this season. Our most successful mom was KKD887, with a hatch success of 93.3% and an emergence success of 93.0%. Additionally, the Conservancy deployed satellite tags for the fifth consecutive season. Six nesting females were outfitted with tags throughout the month of July and are still currently signaling. To follow their migration along the East Coast, please visit our new webpage – Mapping Migrations: Tracking Loggerheads in the Atlantic.
All sea turtle monitoring and research performed pursuant to North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Endangered Species Permit #25ST14. Visit www.bhic.org for more details on the Sea Turtle Protection Program and how you can support the sea turtles of BHI.
