Topsail Island beaches up into the sand dunes. There are four main species that can be found on and around the island which are loggerhead, green, leatherback, and Ridley sea turtles. One species specifically that has been the main theme of protection is the Loggerhead Sea Turtle. This turtle has been the basis for the stationing of the Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Topsail Island, North Carolina. Their mission is the protection and watching over of the 26 mile stretch of beach that is Topsail Island. They are committed to the overseeing of hatching of the eggs, caring for sick
Loggerhead shrike shrikes may eat or discard their bodies or else feed them to their remaining young. The oldest recorded age of a loggerhead shrike was 12 years and 6 months. Loggerhead shrike populations have been decreasing in North America since the 1960s. Reasons behind the decline remain unclear, although suggestions include habitat loss, pesticide contamination, climate change and human disturbance. The eastern loggerhead shrike ("L.l. migrans") is critically endangered in Canada, with fewer than 35 known breeding pairs in Canada. The San Clemente Island shrike, "L. l. mearnsi", is critically endangered, with a population as low as 5-10 individuals during 1983-1988.