BUXTON, N.C. — The piping plover is a small bird, but it's at the center of a major battle among environmentalists, fishermen and businesses that is scheduled to land in a federal courtroom Friday.
At issue is whether driving on beaches at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore must be halted to protect the piping plover, a threatened species — along with a host of seabirds and sea turtles — and what impact a ban would have on the area's way of life.
The Audubon Society and the Defenders of Wildlife in February sued the National Parks Service seeking an injunction to halt driving year-round at six fishing spots on the Outer Banks until a permanent management plan is developed for off-road vehicles.
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