Cape Hatteras National Seashore ⓘ

Cape Hatteras National Seashore, the nation’s first national seashore, was established to preserve significant segments of unspoiled barrier islands along North Carolina’s stretch of coast of the Atlantic Ocean . Barrier islands are narrow, low-lying, dynamic landforms which parallel ocean coasts, are separated from the mainland, and are constantly moving and reshaping in response to storms, ocean currents, sea level changes, and wave and wind action. These processes continue to influence the islands today through the processes of erosion and accretion of the shoreline; overwash across the islands; and the formation, migration, and closure of the inlets.

These forces of nature, combined with human activities on these islands, have resulted in the development and constant change of beach, dune, grassland, shrub thicket, maritime forest, and salt marsh habitats throughout the islands. Each of these habitats supports a great variety of wildlife, some commonly observed and some not so easily spotted. Although many of the plants and animals you will see throughout the Seashore are common to eastern North Carolina, the Seashore does also support several threatened and endangered species, such as the piping plover and loggerhead sea turtle.

Not only does the Seashore support a rich diversity of plants and animals, it also offers amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean and Pamlico-Albemarle Sound, beautiful and dark night skies, and dynamic weather patterns including hurricanes and nor'easters.

Research Publications Migratory and Wintering Shorebird Monitoring at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, 2006-2007 , National Park Service, Natural Resource Program Center; M.W. Byrne, J.M. Maxfield, J. DeVivo (pdf, 800 kb).

In the winter months, seals show up on the beach when low ocean temperatures persist throughout winter and spring. They ha ul-out on the beach to rest during their travels. If you see one, the biggest thing remember is to maintain a safe distance: at least 50 yards as recommended by NOAA. Never approach a seal with dogs, never touch a seal, and never feed a seal.

Unlike seal, dolphins and whales do not come to the beach to rest. If a dolphin or whale is found on the beach, there is something wrong with it. Keep your distance and never touch them.

Any marine mammal sightings—dolphins, whales, or seals—should be reported to the Cape Hatteras Stranding Hotline: 252-216-6892. Sightings elsewhere in the Outer Banks should be reported to the OBX Marine Mammal Stranding Network: 252-455-9654.

Park visitors are not the only summer beach-goers. Each summer, scores of coastal birds find the beaches of Cape Hatteras National Seashore the ideal place to find mates, nest, and raise their young. As you spend your day at the beach, keep an eye and ear open for these beach-nesting birds!

Colonial Nesters Some coastal birds nest in colonies on the open beach. Safety comes in numbers, providing protection from potential preda­tors. Colonial nesting waterbirds at Cape Hatteras include the least tern, common tern, gull-billed tern, and black skimmer. Terns can be identi­fied by pale gray or white feathering, forked tails and black caps. Black skimmers stand out with black plumage and large orange and black beaks.

Terns and skimmers nest on the upper beach, out of reach of most tidal waters. Their nests are merely scrapes in the sand where two or three pale speckled eggs are laid, blending perfectly with the surroundings. Chicks are born fully feathered and begin walking after two days. Parents bring meals of small fish to their chicks. After three to four weeks the young begin to fly.

Terns are extremely agile flyers with keen sight, catching fish near the water's surface. Black Skimmers fly low over the water, day or night, and catch fish by skimming their long narrow lower bill just below the water surface.

Solitary Nesters Many shorebirds, such as the American oystercatcher and the threatened piping plover, are solitary nesters. These birds will actively chase away any other birds of their own species that enter their breeding territories. The American oys­tercatcher is a large, prominent shorebird with dark brown and white plumage, orange chisel-like bill, and loud call. The small, pale, buff-colored pip­ing plover is more inconspicuous, blending with the sandy habitat. Its soft, plaintive "peep-lo" call is often heard before the bird is seen.

Both species need large undis­turbed beaches to breed successful­ly. They lay a clutch of well-camou­flaged eggs in the sand. The chicks are born fully feathered and can run short distances within hours of hatching. Parents may move the young over long distances for food and protection. Plover chicks feed on insects and small marine invertebrates. They can fly at four to five weeks. Oystercatcher chicks usually begin to fly at five weeks but remain dependent on adults for their shellfish diet during their first two months.

Population Threats In the 1800s populations of beach-nesting birds declined due to unregulated market hunting. These birds were prized for their eggs, meat, or ornamental feathers to adorn women's hats.

Today, these birds are protected by state and federal laws. They face many threats on their nesting, migrating, and wintering grounds such as habitat loss, human distur­bance, predation, and storms. At Cape Hatteras National Seashore, beach closures are established to provide undisturbed habitat needed by breeding birds to successfully nest and raise their young.

Wetland Vegetation Large and small ponds, wetlands, and marshes occur throughout the Seashore and have variable vegetation cover. Among the commonly encountered species are: southern cattail ( Typha domingensis ), inland saltgrass ( Distichlis spicata ), Jamaica swamp sawgrass ( Cladium mariscus ), marsh fimbry ( Fimbristylis castanea ), largeleaf pennywort, needlegrass rush ( Juncus roemerianus ), saltmeadow cordgrass, sturdy bulrush ( Schoenoplectus robustus ), marsh bristlegrass ( Setaria parviflora ), seaside goldenrod ( Solidago sempervirens ), perennial saltmarsh aster ( Symphyotrichum tenuifolium ), and eastern annual saltmarsh aster ( Symphyotrichum subulatum ). Large areas of intermittently-flooded brackish flats within the Seashore are infested with common reed ( Phragmites australis ), an exotic invasive plant. The dominance of common reed in many tidal wetlands today often indicates human-induced disturbance, either through direct habitat manipulation or through passive introduction of this species to naturally disturbed sites. Common reed can completely dominate areas, excluding native wetland plant species.

Shrub Thickets Many different types of shrub thickets can be found throughout the Seashore, each of which is characterized by having moderate to very dense (50-90% cover) vegetative cover. Each of the different shrub thickets types is dominated by one of the following species: salt-pruned live oak ( Quercus virginiana ), southern red cedar ( Juniperus virginiana ), wax myrtle ( Morella cerifera ), eastern baccharis ( Baccharis halimifolia ), yaupon ( Ilex vomitoria ), Jesuit’s bark ( Iva frutescens ), or bushy seaside tansy( Borrichia frutescens ). Some patches of shrub thicket may be blanketed in thick vines, such as earleaf greenbrier ( Smilax auriculata ) , peppervine ( Ampelopsis arborea ), saw greenbrier ( Smilax bona-nox ), or eastern poison ivy ( Toxicodendron radicans ). Within the Seashore, marshlands are typically bounded by shrub thickets which often also qualify as wetlands as defined by the National Park Service and the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Maritime forests Maritime forests are characterized by having moderate to dense vegetative cover, dominated by live oak or loblolly pine and many of the following species in the tree sub‑canopy and shrub layers: black cherry ( Prunus serotina ), red bay ( Persea borbonia ), Darlington oak ( Quercus hemisphaerica ), buckthorn bully ( Sideroxylon lycioides ), blackgum ( Nyssa sylvatica ), American holly ( Ilex opaca ), swamp bay ( Persea palustris ), wax myrtle, yaupon, black highbush blueberry ( Vaccinium fuscatum ), and blue huckleberry ( Gaylussacia frondosa ). Vines commonly found in patches of maritime forest include Virginia creeper ( Parthenocissus quinquefolia ), saw greenbrier, eastern poison ivy, muscadine ( Vitis rotundifolia ), peppervine ( Ampelopsis arborea ), and climbing hempvine ( Mikania scandens ). The ground surface may be thick with pine needles, leaves, or moderately vegetated with herbaceous species including beaked spikerush ( Eleocharis rostellata ), bushy seaside tansy, blood panicgrass ( Dichanthelium consanguineum ), largeleaf pennywort, needlegrass rush, royal fern ( Osmunda regalis ). On Hatteras Island, Buxton Woods is an excellent example of the naturally-occurring, Atlantic Coast maritime evergreen forest vegetation community. Elsewhere in the Seashore, plantations of pines (loblolly pine, slash pine [ Pinus elliottii ], or maritime pine [ Pinus pinaster ]) were established in the early to mid-1900s to reduce erosion and migration of beach sands.

For further information, check out the following websites: Invasive Exotic Plants in North Carolina: http://www.ncwildflower.org/invasives/invasives.htm

Cape Hatteras National Seashore operates the Oregon Inlet, Cape Point, Frisco, and Ocracoke campgrounds. All four campgrounds have tent, trailer, and RV (recreational vehicle) sites.

Reservations and payments for campsites at Cape Hatteras National Seashore's four campgrounds can only be made online at www.recreation.gov . Walk-ups (same day) reservations are permitted; however, campers will need to make payment online (on a smart phone) or by calling a Recreation.gov representative at 877-444-6777. Cape Hatteras National Seashore Rangers are not able to take any form of payment at the campgrounds.

Campground Overviews Campground Location Sites Hook-ups? Availibility Cost Oregon Inlet Oregon Inlet Campground Highway 12 Nags Head, NC 27954 107 Available at 47 sites Open year round $28 for no utilities/$35 for utility hookups Cape Point 46700 Lighthouse Road Buxton, NC 27920 202 No Open Spring-Fall, check www.recreation.gov for dates $20 Frisco 53415 Billy Mitchell Road Frisco, NC 27936 127 No Open Spring-Fall, check www.recreation.gov for dates $28 Ocracoke 4352 Irvin Garrish Highway Ocracoke, NC 27960 136 No Open year round $28

Group Camping A group campsite is available at Oregon Inlet Campground and may be reserved through www.recreation.gov . Discounts Holders of the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Senior or Access Pass, or the Golden Age or Access pass are eligible for a 50% discount on their campsite. If making a reservation, pass information must be provided at that time to receive the discount. No discounts are offered for the group camping at Oregon Inlet Campground, or on utilities at Oregon Inlet Campground. Camping Rules and Information Camping is permitted only at designated campgrounds. Camping is not permitted on the beach. Oregon Inlet Camground has heated showers: Frisco, Cape Point and Ocracoke have unheated showers. All campgrounds have modern restrooms and potable water. All reservations are site-specific. Electricity and water are available at 47 camping sites at Oregon Inlet Campground. There are currently no utility connections at the other three campgrounds. Check-out time is noon. No more than two vehicles (pop-up camper is considered a vehicle) and six persons may occupy a single site. Parking space for extra vehicles is severely limited, so plan accordingly. If you must bring more than two vehicles, make arrangements to park your extra vehicle outside the park or purchase an additional campsite. From Easter Sunday until the Sunday after Thanksgiving, all camping is limited to 14 days at each campground. From the Monday after Thanksgiving to the Saturday before Easter, camping in Seashore campgrounds is limited to 30 days total. The campgrounds are located on the ocean side separated from the beach by barrier dunes. Frisco Campground is located among sand dunes. All others are on level ground. Soil at all the campgrounds is sandy; therefore, longer than normal tent stakes are recommended. There are no shade trees. Mosquitoes may be a problem, so netting and insect repellent are recommended.