Turtle nests wiped out by weekend waves

WILMINGTON, N.C. — Although Hurricane Bill made no direct impact on the North Carolina coast, the seas that the storm churned up did damage some homes and turtle nests.

Mayor Larry Lammert said high tides took out several sea turtle nests on Bald Head Island. Dr. Suzanne Dorsey of the Bald Head Island Conservancy estimated five nests were lost.

People were forced to leave at least eight homes over the weekend, Lammert said, after water washed up underneath them.

Farther north, waves tore away septic, heating and air-condition systems from a house made famous by the movie "Nights in Rodanthe," starring Richard Gere.

Caretaker Frisco Mo said he had just finished repairs from past storms and reopened the house to rentals, but the fresh damage forced him to close the house again.

"I’m getting a little worn out. I’m kind of depressed over the whole thing," Mo said.

Support beams at Avon Pier, one of Cape Haterras' most frequented locations, were knocked out by Bill's force.

"I hate to see houses fall down and people losing property, but it is nature and how can you not love nature?” vacationer Paula Sonnenberg asked.