North Carolina Coastal Reserve

06/08/2026

Happy World Oceans Day!
🌊 Here at the Reserve, we celebrate Oceans Day every day! Estuaries are the ocean's nursery, and the NC Coastal Reserve protects more than 44,000 acres of these estuarine waters for research, education, and stewardship!
🌊We want to learn what you love about North Carolina’s estuaries!

06/04/2026

North Carolina Coastal Reserve and NC Wildlife Resources Commission staff were lucky to come across a female loggerhead heading back to the ocean after laying a nest on Masonboro Island Reserve one morning this week.

As we move into peak nesting season, be mindful of wildlife and always respect posted areas where nests are marked off. To report any nesting activity on Masonboro, contact the site manager at 910.620.0005.

This conservation work for protected sea turtles at Masonboro Island is authorized by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (Permit 26ST18) and photos were taken from a safe distance to avoid human interaction.

05/27/2026

Happy birthday to Rachel Carson! 🎉

Do you know why the Rachel Carson Reserve is named after her? Read below ⬇️ to find out!

Rachel Carson explored the waters off Bird Shoal in 1938 while working for the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries at the Biological Station in Beaufort. The tidal marshes, beaches, and animals she found at the shoreline of Town Marsh and Bird Shoal inspired her writing and were featured in her first book, Under the Sea-Wind. Soon she would become famous for calling our collective attention to the environment by documenting the damage wrought by pesticides on fish, birds, and ecosystems, eventually publishing Silent Spring and leaving a lasting legacy.

05/27/2026

It's World Otter Day! Keep an eye out for river otters at any of our TEN reserve sites, like Kitty Hawk Woods Reserve, where a whole romp of otters was caught on camera! 📸

05/23/2026

Happy World Turtle Day! Did you know North Carolina’s state reptile is the Eastern Box Turtle? Keep an eye out for this slow-and-steady state mascot next time you visit one of our ten Reserve sites!

05/23/2026

If you're visiting the Rachel Carson Reserve this weekend, please remember to maintain a lawful distance of at least 50 feet away (the size of a large bus). A much larger distance is recommended for viewing the horses’ natural behaviors and when a foal is present.

Similar rules govern the horses found at Shackleford Banks, Cape Lookout National Seashore. If a violation is witnessed at the Rachel Carson Reserve or Shackleford Banks and it’s safe, take a photo of the incident including boat registration numbers and call the non-emergency dispatch number at 252-726-1911.

Cape Lookout National Seashore Foundation for Shackleford Horses Town of Beaufort NC

05/22/2026

It's World Biodiversity Day! The N.C. Coastal Reserve & National Estuarine Research Reserves are great examples of biodiversity because they support a wide variety of ecosystems and species, both terrestrial and marine. Here are several habitats and species our 10 reserve sites protect:

🏝️ Undisturbed Barrier Island Ecosystems
🐢 Habitat for Rare and Endangered Species
🌊 Nursery Grounds for Marine Life
🦅 Migratory Bird Habitat
🌱 Plant Diversity
🏖️ Minimal Human Development

05/20/2026

Get ready for an exciting summer ☀️! Please join us in welcoming our 2026 Summer interns! We're looking forward to a season filled with stewardship, exploring the sites, and learning more about the research, education, and stewardship activities that take place at each of our ten Reserve sites! Stay tuned for their journey. 🌅

Read more: https://www.deq.nc.gov/blog/2026/05/18/2026-summer-intern-welcome

05/19/2026

Have you visited our southernmost Reserve site, Bird Island Reserve? Each Wednesday this summer you can attend an education walk at the Reserve in Sunset Beach, NC. Explore diverse barrier island communities amidst 1,300 acres of marsh, flats, and subtidal areas.

Take a hike along the nature trail, visit the famous Kindred Spirit mailbox, and keep an eye out for nesting loggerhead sea turtles and seabeach amaranth! 🐢🌱

Can't make it down there? Don't worry! Check out our bio for a virtual tour.

05/17/2026

Celebrating 12 years of the Terrapin Tally! Dive into UNCW student Campbell’s story on community science and conservation:

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following article was written by a University of North Carolina Wilmington undergraduate student and reflects the author’s independent…