Chapter 3 North Carolina’s Species
• Exotic dune and beach vegetation – Nonnative vegetation can out-compete native vegetation such as sea oats and dune grass. Often less stabilizing, nonnative vegetation can lead to erosion and degradation of nesting habitat. • Increased human presence – Disturbance to nesting sea turtles and emerged hatchlings is the most critical threat caused by human presence on beaches. Night-time human activity can cause female turtles to abort nesting attempts and can misorient hatchlings with personal artificial lights. • Military exercises – Training activities on coastal shorelines have the potential to disrupt nesting behavior and increase non-nesting emergences of nesting females, run over nesting females and emerging hatchlings, and destroy nests. • Nest depredation – Predation by Ghost Crabs, Raccoons, foxes, or Fire Ants (among others) is a significant threat to eggs and hatchlings (both sea turtle and shorebirds). Misorientation of emergent hatchlings by artificial lighting increases their chances of being depredated by one of these animals. • Poaching – Illegal harvest of eggs (primarily sea turtle) from nests is unlikely but does occur. • Recreational beach equipment (especially onshore vehicular driving) – Beach chairs, tents, and other recreational equipment can directly impact nests (covering or disturbing incubating nests) or indirectly cause disturbance such that female turtles abort nesting attempts. Vehicle use on beaches has similar effects to heavy machinery used in beach-cleaning efforts (compact or destroy nests, entrap hatchlings); vehicle lighting can disorient hatchlings and adults alike. Sea turtle mortality in North Carolina has resulted from being run over by vehicles driving on the beach. • Shoreline modifications – Fortifications put in place as a result of shoreline development (including sand fences, sea walls, rip rap, groins, jetties, hay bales) can accelerate beach erosion rates and reduce available nesting habitat; improperly placed drift fences can impede nesting attempts and/or trap hatchlings or nesting female sea turtles. 3.12.6.2 Marine Threats (Essential Fish Habitats) These threats are water related and may impact sea turtles, fish species, and marine mammals. • Dredging – Dredging can result in direct destruction or degradation of habitat and/or incidental take of marine species. Channelization of inshore and nearshore habitats can result in the disposal of dredge material on beaches and shallow habitats, impacting nesting success or foraging grounds.
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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