SUNSET BEACH, N.C. (WNCN) — As the weather keeps warming and summer approaches on the North Carolina coast, ocean animals are becoming active.

The first turtle nest was discovered, buried in beach sand at the Outer Banks this week.

Meanwhile, three rehabilitated sea turtles were successfully released back into the ocean at Sunset Beach, an island in Brunswick County near the South Carolina border.

The first sea turtle nest was found at the Cape Lookout National Seashore, National Park Service officials announced Friday.

Nests typically contain between 80 and 150 sea turtle eggs from one of four different sea turtle species at Cape Lookout: loggerheads, Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles, Green sea turtles, and Leatherbacks.

Photo courtesy: Sunset Beach Police Dept.

Crews at the Outer Banks mark nesting sites with PVC pipes topped with bright tape — so no one will accidentally damage or walk on nests. Plastic screens are also put over nests to prevent predators from digging up the eggs.

Also this month, crews at Sunset Beach released two Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles and one Green sea turtle — both are endangered species.

The first sea turtle nest of the 2025 season at Cape Lookout National Seashore. Photo courtesy: Cape Lookout National Seashore

The turtles released May 2 were originally rescued in Dare County during a December 2024, “cold-stunning” event, according to a Sunset Beach Police Department news release.

After initial triage at the Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation Center at the N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke Island, they were transferred to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences for full rehabilitation.

Photo courtesy: Sunset Beach Police Dept.
Photo courtesy: Sunset Beach Police Dept.
Photo courtesy: Sunset Beach Police Dept.
The first sea turtle nest of the 2025 season before markings were installed at Cape Lookout National Seashore. Photo courtesy: Cape Lookout National Seashore
Photo courtesy: Sunset Beach Police Dept.

There were five turtles in total, with the first two released earlier from a boat due to timing and weather conditions, according to the Sunset Beach police.