Zeke's Island Coastal Estuarine Reserve
Zeke's Island is located in Brunswick and New Hanover counties, approximately four miles south of Kure Beach. Access is available via U.S. 421, 22 miles south of Wilmington. This component of the North Carolina Reserve is bounded by Federal Point to the north, Smith Island to the south, the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Cape Fear River to the west. The lagoon-like complex at the Zeke's Island site is one of the most unusual areas of the North Carolina coast. There are three main islands within the component of the reserve - Zeke's Island covering 42 acres of high ground, North Island encompassing 138 upland acres, No Name Island covering about three acres and the beach barrier spit of 64 acres. The islands are fringed with extensive marshes and tidal flats.
Zeke's Island is open year-round, but is accessible only by small boats, canoes and kayaks. It is extremely dangerous to walk on the Civil War era rock jetty due to its poor condition, slippery surface and rough waters.
Fishes, shrimp, crabs, clams and oysters use the estuary as a nursery ground. Atlantic loggerhead sea turtles occasionally nest on the site's ocean beach. The expanse of intertidal flats in the Zeke's Island area is one of the most important shorebird habitats in southeastern North Carolina. Species sighted include: dunlins, black-bellied plovers, short-billed dowitchers, white ibises, great blue herons, snowy egrets, Louisiana herons, black ducks mallards and pintails. Mammals observed include opossums, grey foxes, marsh rabbits and cotton rats.
Atlantic loggerhead turtles occasionally nest on the site's ocean beach. Other wildlife reported at the site include bald eagles and piping plovers.
Shrub thicket and maritime forest consisting of live oak, loblolly pine, wax myrtle, yaupon and red cedar occur where salt spray and sea water flooding do not prohibit woody plant growth. The site's extensive salt marshes are dominated by a mixture of saltmarsh cordgrass, salt grass, black needlerush, sea ox-eye, glasswort and sea lavender.
More Info: ncnerr.org
