RALEIGH, N.C. (May 17, 2013) Download the agenda package PDF below. May 17, 2013 Commission Meeting Agenda Package (7.21 MB)

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RALEIGH, N.C. (May 10, 2013) — Young wildlife may be cute — and it may be tempting to bring a fawn, cub, chick or kit home — but tiny animals are not pets. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is reminding people that touching or feeding them can hurt wildlife and jeopardize human health. It also can harm the ecosystem.

Human encounters with young animals often increase in the spring, when many wildlife species bear young.

“Wild animals are not pets, and they are not meant to be raised and fed by humans,” said Ann May, the Commission’s extension wildlife biologist. “Wild animals still have their wild instincts, even if they seem tame. Well-meaning people can be injured by a wild animal just following its instincts,and the interaction can be harmful to the animals as well.”

It is illegal to keep native wildlife as a pet in North Carolina. Also, capturing and handling a young animal can stress it,

HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. (May 9, 2013) — Celebrate turtles and learn more about conservation of these remarkable reptiles at Turtle Fest, a free,family-friendly event scheduled for Saturday, May 11, from 1-4 p.m. at Bass Lake Park in Holly Springs.

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, along with the North Carolina chapter of Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (NCPARC) and the N.C. Herpetological Society, will staff a booth featuring live reptiles and amphibians.  Come check out corn snakes, frogs, maybe a toad or two, and, of course, the stars of the day — turtles of varying shapes and sizes. You also can learn more about how you can turn your backyard into a haven for all kinds of wildlife, in particular amphibians and reptiles.

Be sure to test your snake-identification skills by playing the “Spot the Copperhead” game and don’t forget to pick up your “I Love Snakes” sticker as well.

Tur

RALEIGH, N.C. (May 9, 2013) — A multi-agency safety initiative aimed at summer holiday travel will resume throughout North Carolina, beginning this Memorial Day weekend.

The “On the Road, On the Water, Don’t Drink and Drive” campaign will work to reduce accidents on the state’s roadways and waterways, which see increased traffic this time of year. Unfortunately, too many accidents are alcohol-related. In North Carolina, a driver or vessel operator with a blood-alcohol concentration that meets or exceeds .08 or is appreciably impaired by alcohol and/or drugs is subject to arrest.

The campaign is made up of the Governor’s Highway Safety Program, Wildlife Resources Commission, State Highway Patrol, Alcohol Law Enforcement, Forensic Tests for Alcohol, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard and local police and sheriff’s offices, along with participating organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving,

RALEIGH, N.C. (May 8, 2013) –The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is seeking nominations for two members to its Nongame Wildlife Advisory Committee. Closing date for nominations is July 15, 2013.

The 18-member committee, which advises the Commission on nongame and endangered wildlife issues across the state, meets four times per year. The person selected should be willing and able to contribute consistently as a volunteer to the efforts of the committee. Committee members have a diverse range of regional, habitat and species-specific expertise and advise the Wildlife Commission on matters that fit their areas of expertise.

To nominate an individual for the committee, submit a nomination form detailing the reasons for the person’s nomination, a resume, if available, and a cover letter. 

While electronic submissions are preferred, hard copies can be mailed to the Nongame Wildlife Advisory Committee, Attn: Diane Renzi, Division of Inland Fisheries

RALEIGH, N.C. (May 7, 2013) Download the agenda PDF below. May 17, 2013 Commission Meeting Agenda (PDF - 1.39 MB). 

Note: The meeting is at the Hampton Inn and Suites, Pine Knoll Shores, NC.

Visit Meetings / Actions in the About section for more information.

MARION, N.C. (May 6, 2013) — The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has postponed two trout stockings scheduled today for the Delayed Harvest sections of the Little River in Alleghany County and Big Horse Creek in Ashe County. Commission staff had planned to stock 1,500 trout in Little River and 1,675 trout in Big Horse Creek, but postponed due to flood conditions in the region.

Both postponed trout stockings will be rescheduled after the flood recedes.

The Little River and Big Horse Creek are part of the Wildlife Commission’s Delayed Harvest Trout Waters Program. For a complete list of Delayed-Harvest Trout Waters, as well as information on trout fishing in North Carolina, visit the Commission’s trout fishing page. For more information on fishing in public, inland waters, visit www.ncwildlife.org/fishing. 

MARION, N.C. (May 3, 2013) — The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has postponed a  trout stocking scheduled for today into the Delayed Harvest section of the Nantahala River in Macon County. Commission staff had planned to stock in the Nantahala 3,300 trout today — 1,320 brook, 1,320 rainbow and 660 brown trout — but postponed the stocking due to equipment malfunction. Other trout stockings scheduled for today are being conducted as planned. 

The postponed trout stocking for the Nantahala River has been rescheduled to May 7.

The Nantahala River is part of the Wildlife Commission’s Delayed Harvest Trout Waters Program. For a complete list of Delayed-Harvest Trout Waters, as well as information on trout fishing in North Carolina, visit the Commission’s trout fishing page. For more information on fishing in public, inland waters, visit www.ncwildlife.org/fishing. 

BREVARD, N.C. (May 3, 2013) — The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education is seeking volunteers to help accommodate increased seasonal visitation.

Located off U.S. 276 near Brevard alongside the Davidson River, the wildlife education center offers free admission, with a busy schedule of hands-on programs and conservation activities.

Vacant volunteer positions include:

· Raceway Monitors, to answer questions about the hatchery;

· Front Desk, to greet and assist visitors, and answer phones;

· Maintenance Assistance, for mowing, and garden and facility upkeep;

· Educational Assistance, to aid wildlife educators in managing large groups; and,

· Master Anglers, to provide guidance and instruction to fishing program participants.

Many of the volunteer functions require no previous experience. Training will be provided.

“The Pisgah Center for Wildlife E

RALEIGH, N.C. (May 2, 2013) — Being a safe boater isn’t just smart, it’s the law.

Regulations are in effect to protect the boating community in North Carolina. Wildlife officers with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission want to increase awareness of the regulations to prevent accidents by offering pre-launch courtesy inspections at various public access areas throughout the summer.

“But boaters can do their own pre-launch inspection,” said Maj. Chris Huebner, the state boating safety coordinator. “We provide a checklist, a vessel operator’s guide and other useful information online at www.ncwildlife.org/boating that could save a life.”

One important state regulation requires anyone younger than 26 operating a vessel powered by a 10-horsepower or greater motor must complete an approved boating safety education course and carry their certification, or otherwise be in compliance. The Wildlife Comm

RALEIGH, N.C. (May 2, 2013) — After more than a year without a new freshwater fish state record, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission recently certified two new record breakers — a freshwater drum from Kerr Reservoir and a white crappie from a private lake in Wake County.  

On March 20, Jonathan Wilkerson of Oxford landed a 23-pound, 8-ounce freshwater drum while fishing on Kerr Reservoir, in an area known as Beaver Pond Creek. He caught the new state record using a plastic fluke on 10-pound test.

Twelve days later, on April 1, Joey Boretti, of Holly Springs, was fishing a private lake in Wake County when he reeled in a 3-pound, 15-ounce white crappie, using a Storm WildEye® Swim Shad lure on a spinning rod.

Both anglers were fishing in the early evening — a particularly good time to catch white crappie, which are most active at sunrise and sunset. Boretti, an experienced angler although he’s only 17, says he crappie

GREENSBORO, N.C. (April 30, 2013) — Limited space remains available for a Becoming an Outdoors-Woman “Outdoor Skills Piedmont Workshop” at Lake Townsend, a one-day skills workshop in archery, aquatic wildlife identification, basic fishing and motorboat skills on May 18.

Cost is $25, with scholarship opportunities available. Pre-registration is required. All sessions offer hands-on learning opportunities. All instructors are Wildlife Commission employees or Hunter Education Program instructors with training and expertise in the session topics.

“Women ages 18 and up who would like to try these basic outdoor skills are encouraged to register,” said B.B. Gillen, BOW program coordinator. “No prior experience is needed.”

Gillen said that Lake Townsend was chosen as the site for the workshop because of its location near Greensboro and because the Lake Townsend Marina features not only a boat ramp and boat docks for