Topsail Island
Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta): Vulnerable and protected
Topsail is best known for its sea turtle preservation and conservation efforts. Throughout the 26 miles of coastline, the Loggerhead Sea Turtle comes ashore during mid-May through August, sometimes nesting three to five times and depositing a clutch with an average of 120 eggs. The eggs incubate unattended in the sand for about 60 days before the babies break out of their shells. All the hatchlings emerge from the nest together and race to the sea.
Weighing in at about two ounces, the first challenge on Topsail Island's beach is escaping the deadly grasp of ghost crabs, which are notorious for preying on newly hatched sea turtles as they make their perilous journey from the nest to the ocean. These crabs lie in wait near the nest, ambushing the hatchlings. Once in the water, the babies must hide from both bird and fish predators.
It is estimated that 1 in 1,000 survives the first year, and as few as 1 in 5,000 to 10,000 will make it to adulthood. The females will return to their natal beaches to lay their eggs and the cycle begins again. (Source: Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Hospital).
Touching a nest or hatchling is against the law, even if the baby turtle is in distress or not crawling toward the ocean.
Topsail Island's History
Topsail, a barrier island about 40 miles northeast of Wilmington, spans Onslow and Pender counties and is home to three seaside towns: North Topsail Beach, Surf City, and Topsail Beach. According to folklore, Topsail got its name centuries ago when pirates hid their boats in the channel between the island and the mainland: only the tops of the boats' sails were visible to ships approaching from the Atlantic. However, the name came from New Topsail Inlet; this inlet’s name can be found on early navigational charts.
The island was accessible only by boat until after WWII when the U.S. Navy chose Topsail as the perfect isolated location to develop supersonic surface-to-air missiles as part of its secret project known as Operation Bumblebee. During 1946-1948, the Navy constructed an assembly building, a control tower, eight observation towers, a pontoon bridge, launching platform, and bombproof shelter, all used to develop the jet-powered missile that could destroy an air target up to 20 miles away.
It is said that Topsail “is to Jet Flight Development what Kitty Hawk is to Propeller Flight.” Access to the middle of the island was once by way of the “old” Surf City Swing Bridge (the opening scene of JESSIE WITH A COOLER FULL is on this bridge). The swing bridge was demolished in 2018-2019 after completion of the new 65-foot-tall Surf City Bridge.