Nesting turtle killed on Ocracoke Island

An off-road vehicle struck and killed a nesting female loggerhead turtle on Ocracoke Island late Wednesday or early Thursday, National Park Service authorities said.

Posted 6:54 p.m. Jun 25, 2010 — Updated 7:39 p.m. Jun 25, 2010

OCRACOKE, N.C. — An off-road vehicle struck and killed a nesting female loggerhead turtle on Ocracoke Island late Wednesday or early Thursday, National Park Service authorities said.

The turtle had crawled out of the ocean and was attempting to lay eggs between Ramps 70 and 72 when it was hit and dragged about 12 feet, authorities said. It is believed to be the first time a nesting sea turtle has been killed by an off-road vehicle at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Because the seashore is nesting habitat for three species of threatened or endangered sea turtles off-road vehicles are prohibited on the beach from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. during the turtle nesting season. Authorities said they believe the vehicle that struck and killed the turtle was likely a four-wheel-drive SUV or pickup truck.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Dare Community Crime Line at 252-473-3111.

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