It's Nesting Season - Keep Beaches
#CleanDarkFlat
Did you know - May 1 though October 31 is sea turtle nesting season!
Click here to learn more about nests on Topsail Island.
Sea turtles dig the dark! Artificial lighting from houses, streetlights, business can disturb nesting female turtles, causing them to cut short a nesting crawl. The same artificial light - even light as dim as a cell phone screen - can cause hatchlings to become misoriented and crawl away from the ocean.
How can you help? Keep the beach #CleanDarkFlat!
Click here to learn more about nests on Topsail Island.
Sea turtles dig the dark! Artificial lighting from houses, streetlights, business can disturb nesting female turtles, causing them to cut short a nesting crawl. The same artificial light - even light as dim as a cell phone screen - can cause hatchlings to become misoriented and crawl away from the ocean.
How can you help? Keep the beach #CleanDarkFlat!
Clean: Pick up trash. Recycle what you can and dispose of the rest properly. Bring in chairs, tents, umbrellas and other objects off the beach. Turtles can get entangled in debris and beach furniture.
Dark: Turn OFF outdoor lights or use turtle friendly bulbs. Indoors, close blinds, pull shades, and draw drapes so that your interior lights don't shine onto the beach. If you see a turtle on the beach, please give them space and refrain from using flash photos or flashlights.
Flat: Fill in holes at the end of the day.
You can help make the beach a safe place for sea turtles and people!
Dark: Turn OFF outdoor lights or use turtle friendly bulbs. Indoors, close blinds, pull shades, and draw drapes so that your interior lights don't shine onto the beach. If you see a turtle on the beach, please give them space and refrain from using flash photos or flashlights.
Flat: Fill in holes at the end of the day.
You can help make the beach a safe place for sea turtles and people!
Click Here to learn about current nests on Topsail Island.
Turtle Talks!
Join volunteers from the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center's Topsail Turtle Project and learn about the sea turtles that nest on Topsail Island! Turtle Talks are held weekly from June 2 to August 27 (except July 4 week) in Topsail Beach, Surf City, and North Topsail Beach.
FREE - donations welcome. All donations support efforts to conserve and protect sea turtles. Each program is family friendly and lasts 45-60 minutes.
Topsail Beach: Mondays, 9 a.m.
Outside the Assembly Building, 720 Channel Blvd.
Outdoors. Bring a lawn chair, towel, or blanket to sit on.
Surf City: Tuesdays, 9 a.m.
Soundside Park bandshell, 517 Roland Ave.
Outdoors. Bring a lawn chair, towel, or blanket to sit on.
North Topsail Beach: Tuesdays, 9 a.m.
Meeting Room at North Topsail Beach Town Hall, 2008 Loggerhead Ct.
This program is indoors.
FREE - donations welcome. All donations support efforts to conserve and protect sea turtles. Each program is family friendly and lasts 45-60 minutes.
Topsail Beach: Mondays, 9 a.m.
Outside the Assembly Building, 720 Channel Blvd.
Outdoors. Bring a lawn chair, towel, or blanket to sit on.
Surf City: Tuesdays, 9 a.m.
Soundside Park bandshell, 517 Roland Ave.
Outdoors. Bring a lawn chair, towel, or blanket to sit on.
North Topsail Beach: Tuesdays, 9 a.m.
Meeting Room at North Topsail Beach Town Hall, 2008 Loggerhead Ct.
This program is indoors.
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Visiting Hours
THE TURTLES WELCOME YOU!
CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION. ADMISSION (PLUS sales tax & fees): $7.00 General Admission (Ages 13-61) $6.00 Military (Active Duty and Veterans) $6.00 Seniors (Ages 62 and up) $5.00 Children (Ages 3-12) $0.00 Babies and Toddlers (Ages 0-2) (Babies are free but a ticket is still required to save their spot!) |
We are a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization - POWERED BY VOLUNTEERS
EIN: 56-1967579
This conservation work for protected sea turtles at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center and on Topsail Island
is authorized by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, ES Permit 25ST05.
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2025 Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue & Rehabilitation Center​
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