Rachel Carson Reserve

05/27/2026

Happy birthday to Rachel Carson! 🎉

Do you know why the Rachel Carson Reserve is named after her? Read below ⬇️ to find out!

Rachel Carson explored the waters off Bird Shoal in 1938 while working for the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries at the Biological Station in Beaufort. The tidal marshes, beaches, and animals she found at the shoreline of Town Marsh and Bird Shoal inspired her writing and were featured in her first book, Under the Sea-Wind. Soon she would become famous for calling our collective attention to the environment by documenting the damage wrought by pesticides on fish, birds, and ecosystems, eventually publishing Silent Spring and leaving a lasting legacy.

05/27/2026

It's World Otter Day! Keep an eye out for river otters at any of our TEN reserve sites, like Kitty Hawk Woods Reserve, where a whole romp of otters was caught on camera! 📸

05/23/2026

Happy World Turtle Day! Did you know North Carolina’s state reptile is the Eastern Box Turtle? Keep an eye out for this slow-and-steady state mascot next time you visit one of our ten Reserve sites!

05/23/2026

If you're visiting the Rachel Carson Reserve this weekend, please remember to maintain a lawful distance of at least 50 feet away (the size of a large bus). A much larger distance is recommended for viewing the horses’ natural behaviors and when a foal is present.

Similar rules govern the horses found at Shackleford Banks, Cape Lookout National Seashore. If a violation is witnessed at the Rachel Carson Reserve or Shackleford Banks and it’s safe, take a photo of the incident including boat registration numbers and call the non-emergency dispatch number at 252-726-1911.

Cape Lookout National Seashore Foundation for Shackleford Horses Town of Beaufort NC

05/22/2026

It's World Biodiversity Day! The N.C. Coastal Reserve & National Estuarine Research Reserves are great examples of biodiversity because they support a wide variety of ecosystems and species, both terrestrial and marine. Here are several habitats and species our 10 reserve sites protect:

🏝️ Undisturbed Barrier Island Ecosystems
🐢 Habitat for Rare and Endangered Species
🌊 Nursery Grounds for Marine Life
🦅 Migratory Bird Habitat
🌱 Plant Diversity
🏖️ Minimal Human Development

05/20/2026

Get ready for an exciting summer ☀️! Please join us in welcoming our 2026 Summer interns! We're looking forward to a season filled with stewardship, exploring the sites, and learning more about the research, education, and stewardship activities that take place at each of our ten Reserve sites! Stay tuned for their journey. 🌅

Read more: https://www.deq.nc.gov/blog/2026/05/18/2026-summer-intern-welcome

05/17/2026

Celebrating 12 years of the Terrapin Tally! Dive into UNCW student Campbell’s story on community science and conservation:

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following article was written by a University of North Carolina Wilmington undergraduate student and reflects the author’s independent…

05/13/2026

Last week, our Central Sites Manager, Ben Wunderly, took front-desk volunteers from North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort on a boat tour of the Rachel Carson Reserve to teach them about the site, rules, access, safety, and more. The volunteers learned more about the site, which will help them answer questions from museum visitors all summer!

05/01/2026

Join our team in the Outer Banks! Help protect and manage 3,782 acres of stunning NC Coastal Reserve & National Estuarine Research Reserve components: Currituck Banks, Kitty Hawk Woods, and Buxton Woods Reserves.

Learn more & apply: https://nc.wd108.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/NC_Careers/job/Coastal-Management-Northern-Sites-Manager_JR-114835-1

04/23/2026

Planning a visit to Beaufort, NC this summer?🌞 Sign up for a free public field trip of the Rachel Carson Reserve! You can hike across the barrier island, through the marsh to the beach, or take a boat ride down to the boardwalk. Ages 4 and up.

Registration required: deq.nc.gov/Rachel-Carson-Field-Trips