Endangered Leatherback turtles lay two nests on Cape Hatteras National Seashore

CAPE HATTERAS, N.C. (WAVY) — Two leatherback turtle nests have been found on Cape Hatteras National Seashore this season. According to the National Park Service, this is the first time the seashore has had two leatherback turtle nests in one season.

The first nest was found on June 19 in Avon and the second nest was found June 26 on Ocracoke Island.

Leatherback turtles are classified as endangered species by both the State of North Carolina and the federal government. These sea turtles are known to often travel great distances across ocean basins in search of jellyfish, their preferred food, several time per year.

Female Leatherbacks typically lay between four and eight clutches in a season and nest about every 10 days. With this in mind, it is likely that both nest belong to the same turtle.

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