'Tis the (Tax) Season to Help Nongame and Endangered Wildlife

Tax season is upon us and the Wildlife Commission is asking taxpayers to think "wildlife conservation" when filling out their North Carolina state tax income form this year. Donating a portion of their refund to the Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Fund on line 30 will help support nongame wildlife research, conservation and management, including monitoring populations of golden eagles, managing habitat to benefit bog turtles, surveying for gopher frogs, developing captive breeding techniques for mussels, and for research and future restoration efforts. More


Nuisance Algae Found in Tuckasegee River

Trout anglers fishing in western North Carolina waters are advised to be especially diligent about cleaning their fishing equipment after didymo was found in the Tuckasegee River in Jackson County. Didymo, also called rock snot, is a nuisance algae that can produce thick algal mats along stream bottoms, altering stream habitats and making fishing difficult. This discovery marks the first time didymo has been found in North Carolina. Learn more about didymo and steps you can take to avoid spreading the algae to other waters.

Angler Breaks Blue Catfish State Record Twice in Less than 24 Hours

Zakk Royce, an angler from Murfreesboro, did something that most fishermen only dream about — he caught two state record blue catfishes in less than 24 hours from Lake Gaston in December. Zakk was our guest blogger this month on the Wildlife Commission’s Conserve and Protect blog, sharing his experiences reeling in the two monster fish, as well as, videos of his amazing feats. Read about them here.



Wildlife Commission Introduces New Turn-in-Poachers Program

The Wildlife Commission has created the Turn-in-Poachers program to encourage concerned citizens to report information on wildlife violations. People who report suspicious activity or provide knowledge related to wildlife poaching violations that results in a conviction could be rewarded. Rewards range from $100 to $1,000, depending on the severity of the crime and the fines assessed by the court. More




Prescribed Burns Benefit Wildlife

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. And where there’s fire, at least on a Wildlife Commission game land, there’s usually a prescribed burn — one of the best and most cost-effective methods of managing habitat for wildlife. A prescribed burn, or an intentional burning of vegetation under strict and specific circumstances, helps restore and maintain wildlife habitat. It is a cost-effective tool that Commission staff uses to create and maintain suitable and ample wildlife habitat in old fields, native grasslands and open-canopy woodlands on game lands throughout the state. Learn more about the benefits of prescribed burns.


Bobcat T-shirts Available

The official N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission T-shirt this year features a bobcat and the agency’s distinctive diamond logo on the front and an enlarged image of the bobcat on the back. The beige, 100% cotton T-shirt comes in youth sizes ($12) and adult ($15). Available at Neuse Sport Shop (NSS adult shirts; NSS youth shirts).