Beach Driving Fact Sheet
Protected species are rebounding at Cape Hatteras National Seashore under the park protections that went into effect on April 30, 2008 under a consent decree agreed to as “fair and just” by all parties -- including ORV enthusiasts and Dare County, N.C.--before U.S. District Court Judge Terrence Boyle.
Below was the decline of shorebirds between 1995 and 2007 prior to the consent decree.
The number of colonial waterbirds nesting on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore beaches declined from a high of 1311 nests in 1997 to 212 nests in 2007 - an 84% decline in 10 years.
| Bird | Population in 1995 | Population in 2007 | Percent decline |
|---|---|---|---|
 Gull billed tern |
108 | 0 | 100% |
 Black Skimmer |
454 | 0 | 100% |
 Common tern |
739 | 18 | 97% |
 Least tern |
464 | 194 | 58% |
 American Oystercatcher |
41* | 20-22 breeding pairs | 49% |
* numbers are based on 1999 data.
Related background information:
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