Beach Driving Impacts on Nesting Sea Turtles: A Qualitative Analysis from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina

Abstract

Sea turtles are often central to coastal conservation efforts. Yet, sea turtles are subject to diverse natural threats, including rising sand temperatures affecting sex ratios of hatchlings, human driven impacts such as pollution from plastics and other marine debris, accidental capture in fishing gear, or loss of nesting beaches due to coastal development. The effects of beach driving on sea turtles, however, are largely under-researched. This study investigates the impact of off-road vehicles (ORVs) and beach driving in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina on sea turtles by analyzing data provided by the Network for Endangered Sea Turtles (NEST) Network and the National Park Service (NPS) on impacts on nesting sea turtles between the years of 1999 - 2023. Our analysis detected 66 interactions between ORVs and sea turtles in Cape Hatteras. The most common occurrence was an ORV driving over a nest, followed by a sea turtle nesting in a high traffic area resulting in a relocation of the nest. The findings illustrate the risks posed by ORVs to nesting sea turtles and highlight the need for targeted conservation strategies. These could include stricter enforcement of ORV regulations and public education campaigns, as well as balancing recreational use with wildlife protection, which is essential for the long-term viability of sea turtle populations.