Ocean Isle Beach Sea Turtle Protection Organization

08/27/2026

🎶 The celebration of Dolly Parton continues at Ocean Isle Beach. We had two very special little ladies make their appearance from Nest 23! 🎶🐢

Meet Dolly and Jolene! 💕 These two adorable hatchlings emerged from Nest 23 and are now beginning their incredible journey to the ocean.

Just like their namesakes, these little girls have already captured our hearts! 🥰 We wish Dolly and Jolene a safe journey and hope they have a long and beautiful life ahead.

Good luck, little ladies! Swim strong and make us proud! 🌊🐢💙



This work for protected sea turtles on Ocean Isle Beach is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission permit 26ST02

08/27/2026

Dolly is a tiny turtle with a whole lot of personality—sweet, sassy, sparkling, and completely unforgettable! She may be small, but she has a big heart and even bigger dreams. Like her namesake, she’s got a little extra shine, a whole lot of charm, and she’s ready to make waves! 🌊✨

Dolly was a tiny hatchling with a larger-than-life personality and fans of all ages! 🐢✨ 💕 “We Will Always Love You”

This work for protected sea turtles on Ocean Isle Beach is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission permit r the 26ST02

Dolly Parton

08/18/2026

🐢💙 ANOTHER 847 HATCHLINGS HAVE REACHED THEIR OCEAN HOME! 🌊

What an incredible couple of weeks! 847 tiny sea turtles successfully made their way from their nests to the ocean, beginning the journey of a lifetime. 🥹🐢🌙

Every hatchling is a little victory for conservation—and a reminder of why protecting our beaches matters so much.

A huge THANK YOU to our amazing volunteers and everyone who helps protect these nests and keeps our beaches safe for sea turtles. Your dedication makes a difference! 💙

847 hatchlings. 847 new journeys. One ocean home. 🌊🐢



This work for protected sea turtles on Ocean Isle Beach is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission permit 26ST02

08/12/2026

You’re Invited: Public Nest Inventory Tonight! 🌊
Join us tonight at Nest 12 for a public sea turtle nest inventory! 🐢💚

If you join us, please help us protect our hatchlings by following all requests from our volunteers:

• Please stay on the dry sand and behind any designated areas.
• No flash photography or videography.
• Please listen to and follow volunteer instructions throughout the inventory.
• Give our volunteers and hatchlings plenty of space to safely do their jobs.

A special thank you to the Town of Ocean Isle Beach and the Ocean Isle Beach Police Department for attending and helping us keep everyone safe while we protect our sea turtles. 💙

We’re grateful to share this incredible experience with our community.

This work for protected sea turtles is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission permit 26ST02.

08/12/2026

Come play our co****le game to "feed the sea turtles" at the End of Season party in the park. We're here until 11:30

08/11/2026

Come out to the OIB Park on Wednesday August 12th for the Town's Under the Sea End of Season kid's party from 10:00 am -11:30 am. Our Volunteers will be there to share their Sea turtle knowledge and have a "Feed the Sea Turtle" game and prizes. Hope to see you there. 🐢

08/07/2026

What an incredible nesting season so far! Thanks to the dedication of our volunteers and the support of our community, 1,138 sea turtle hatchlings have safely made their journey from nest to ocean.

This work for protected sea turtles on Ocean Isle Beach is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission permit 26ST02

08/07/2026

There is something truly magical about witnessing a sea turtle nest inventory.

These visitors followed our request to stay on the dry sand, giving our volunteers the space they needed to safely complete the inventory. Their patience and respect were rewarded with an unforgettable sight—baby sea turtles emerging and making their incredible journey across the beach to their ocean home.

Thank you to everyone who watches responsibly and helps us give these amazing animals the best possible start.

This work for protected sea turtles on Ocean Isle Beach is authorized by the NW Wildlife Resources Commission permit 26ST02

Hatchlings crawling to their ocean home.

08/04/2026

What a great turnout for last nights turtle talk! Outstanding questions and interest in how we save sea turtles on OIB.

A huge thank you to Le Volte for their incredible generosity in donating a meeting room each week for our FREE Sea Turtle Talks!

Because of their support, we’ve been able to educate residents and visitors about sea turtle conservation, nesting season, and the simple actions everyone can take to help protect these amazing animals. Their commitment to our community and local wildlife has made a real difference.

If you’re looking for a wonderful place to dine, please consider supporting Le Volte—the only oceanfront restaurant on Ocean Isle Beach. Enjoy delicious food, breathtaking ocean views, and a business that truly gives back to the community.

We are so grateful for your partnership and your dedication to helping protect the sea turtles that call Ocean Isle Beach home. Thank you, Le Volte, for making conservation and education possible!

This work for protected sea turtles on Ocean Isle Beach is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission permit 26ST02.

08/01/2026

Wild nest, we think we love you! We verified our first wild nest of 2026. I wild nest is a nest that not identified when the nest was laid. It was discovered when hatchlings emerged. The east end of Ocean Isle has had above average escapements and erosion. This nest was likely laid during a high tide that erased her crawl.

💚 Two more nests to celebrate! 💚

Ocean Isle Beach keeps the good news coming!

Nest #33 has been verified, and we’re also excited to announce Wild Nest #34! Every new nest is another sign that our beaches continue to provide important nesting habitat for endangered and threatened sea turtles.

Nest 33 “Barbara's Beachy Turtletopia” sponsored by Deanna Martin
Nest 34 “In celebration of the Lemons' Family Vacation” sponsored by David Lemons

A huge thank you to our incredible volunteers who patrol the beach at sunrise every morning, along with the residents and visitors who help protect these amazing mothers and their nests.

If you see a marked nest, please remember:
• Keep your distance and respect the barriers.
• Fill in holes and knock down sandcastles before leaving the beach.
• Remove all trash and beach equipment.
• Turn off or shield beachfront lights at night to help nesting females and hatchlings safely find the ocean.

Thank you for helping us protect Ocean Isle Beach’s sea turtles. Here’s to many more nests this season!

This work for protected sea turtles is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission permit 26ST02