The NC Coastal Reserve & National Estuarine Research Reserve is a network of ten protected sites established for long-term research, education and stewardship.

Beaufort, NC
Joined May 2015
Did you know that the N.C. Coastal Reserve has ten sites along our coast? Let us know what sites you've visited (or plan to visit!) ⬇️
3
11
897
Discover the wonders of Bird Island Reserve with us every 3rd Wednesday, starting this week! Join the Bird Island Stewards for a free guided nature walk to the Kindred Spirit Mailbox—no sign-up needed. See you there!
2
296
Our incredible interns in the Beaufort office completed a boating safety course and are now skilled and certified boat drivers. Thanks to Boat U.S. Foundation and Captain Ben for teaching them the rules of the water! 🚤 #
2
57
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! 📸 #RiverOtter #WildlifeWednesday
1
1
4
132
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!
1
6
138
🌊 Estuaries are the ocean's nursery, and the NC Coastal Reserve protects more than 44,000 acres of these estuarine waters for research, education, and stewardship! #Estuaries #CoastalReserve #EstuaryLove
2
2
87
Explore the Rachel Carson Reserve is located directly across Taylor's Creek from the historic town of Beaufort in Carteret County. Many people don't know that it is a complex of 5 islands: Carrot Island, Town Marsh, Bird Shoal, Horse Island, and Middle Marsh!
1
92
Happy Valentine's Day! Roses are red, octopus blood is blue, did you know they have not one, not two, but three hearts to love you?! Spread the love and share this amazing cephalopod fact with someone special today. 💕❤🐙
56
🌺 Discover the vibrant red blanket flowers (Gaillardia pulchella) at Masonboro Island Reserve and Rachel Carson Reserve. You'll see these blooming from April to October. 🔥 AKA fire wheel, these resilient flowers thrive in the challenging conditions of barrier islands.
1
2
116
#DYK that saltmarsh cordgrass, a common coastal wetland plant in NC, naturally buffers our shorelines from erosion by dampening wave energy? #WorldWetlandsDay 🌊 Here's why we recommend using a living shoreline over a bulkhead to stabilize your shoreline: bit.ly/3v2dnVZ
1
87
Join us in celebrating #WorldEnvironmentalEducation Day! 🌎💚 We're dedicated to educating and inspiring others about NC's coastal and estuarine ecosystems. Shoutout to our amazing education coordinator, Lori Davis! We can't wait for 2026 field trips! #NCCoastalReserve
1
88
Even as the temps drop, our island critters are on the move! Can you identify all the animals caught on our Masonboro game cam? #MasonboroIsland
1
2
46
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! 📸 #OtterSpotting #RiverOtter #WildlifeWednesday
1
62
Playing games? Learning about science? And receiving a stipend for it? That’s what 13 N.C. teachers got to do in June at the Rachel Carson Reserve in Beaufort, N.C. Check out the link to watch a video about the 2025 Teachers on the Estuary workshop! deq.nc.gov/blog/2025/07/28/t…
105
N.C. Coastal Reserve retweeted
Teachers!! The summer is heating up so cool down with a trip to an estuary “NERR” you–starting next week. There’s a whole series of Teachers on the Estuary trainings to give you science lessons and data to bring back to the classroom. 📷: @ncreserve coast.noaa.gov/estuaries/tea…
2
2
167
Early morning discoveries at Masonboro Island Reserve! Not one, not two, but three loggerhead sea turtle nests were documented on the island so far! 🐢🌊
106
N.C. Coastal Reserve retweeted
Serenity is found on Currituck Banks, the northernmost site of the @NCReserve in @thenorthernobx. 🌊 Explore 965 acres of maritime forest, freshwater marsh and tidal flats, bordered by views of the Sound.
4
19
970
April is community science month! Want to be a community scientist? Check out the ways you can participate with the Reserve: deq.nc.gov/blog/2025/04/11/c… #CommunityScience #CitizenScience #iNaturalist
3
132
N.C. Coastal Reserve retweeted
#FieldworkFriday This newly installed "living shoreline" I'm working at along the @NCReserve's Rachel Carson Reserve seems to be living (😉) up to its name #Biodiversity #marinescience #intertidal #outerbanks
1
2
1
6
558
📢 Calling all NC graduate students! Exciting opportunity alert! @NCSeaGrant and @ncreserve are accepting applications for the 2025 NC Coastal Research Fellowship. Due April 7: ncseagrant.ncsu.edu/nc-coast… #CoastalResearch #NorthCarolina #GraduateStudents #FellowshipFriday
1
4
172
N.C. Coastal Reserve retweeted
Calling all coastal kayakers! @NCReserve, @NCWildlife, and partners are looking for volunteers to participate in kayak surveys to document diamondback terrapin sightings. There is a training session on April 12. Learn more: sites.google.com/view/terrap…
2
3
248