Fences are being built on popular NC beaches by National Park Service. Here’s why
Fenced-in areas popping up on North Carolina beaches on the Outer Banks may appear odd to visitors out for a stroll or swim, but they have a life-saving purpose, National Park Service rangers say.
“Have you ever seen a circular screened area all by itself on the beach?” rangers at Cape Lookout National Seashore on the southern Outer Banks asked Friday on Facebook with a dizzying video that reveals what’s going on but might make you sea sick.
In the time lapse video, rangers are shown quickly building what they call a “predator enclosure.”
“Our rangers are quick but not that quick!” Cape Lookout National Seashore officials quipped on Facebook.
The screened-in areas protect piping plovers from larger predators including gulls, raccoons and coyotes, rangers said. Piping plovers are cute, round and stocky little birds just trying to hatch their eggs on the beach.
Openings in the screens are large enough for adult piping plovers to lay their eggs, according to the Parks Service.
Once they hatch, the chicks can easily leave the enclosure when they’re ready to embark into the larger world.
Piping plovers raise only one brood a year, according to the Park Service. They may, however, lay multiple times if their nest is unsuccessful, rangers said.
“The enclosure raises the chance of a nest succeeding at least through hatching phase,” Cape Lookout National Seashore officials said.