Wildlife Officer Gets the Highest State Employee Honor

Sgt. Anthony Sharum, a wildlife officer in Rowan County, is a recipient of the 2012 Governor’s Award for Excellence for Outstanding Service.  The award acknowledges and expresses appreciation for outstanding accomplishments that do not fall entirely within the scope of normal duties.  See a special video presentation.

 

Commission Biologist Honored

Benjy Strope, a technical assistance biologist with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, has been given the Wildlife Management Excellence Award from the Southeastern Section of The Wildlife Society. The award recognizes his work in establishing and managing early-successional habitat on corporate-owned swine farms and private lands in southeastern North Carolina.

Read more about Strope.

 

Pisgah Center Wins Award

The Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education was named the 2012 Exceptional Environmental Education Program by the Environmental Educators of North Carolina. The award recognizes a program, education center or organization that exemplifies excellence in environmental education. More about Pisgah.

 

Cape Fear River Fish Passage Structure Constructed; Draft Plan Open to Comment

The Cape Fear River Partnership, a coalition of state and federal natural resources agencies, academic entities and private and non-governmental organizations, announced earlier this week that construction of a rock arch ramp — or “fish passage way” — at the Cape Fear River Lock and Dam No. 1 has been completed. Construction of the rock arch ramp, located 32 miles upriver from Wilmington, coincides with the partnership’s release of a draft action plan for public comment through Dec. 19. The rock arch ramp will provide passage to anadromous fish such as striped bass, American shad, river herring and sturgeon during their spring migrations to reach historical spawning grounds.

 

Commission Completes First Phase of Dare County Boating Access Area

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has completed work on the Mann's Harbor Boating Access Area, and it is now open to the public.
 
The site, off U.S. 64 in Dare County, was renovated to include three new boat ramps, two new floating docks, new bulkhead and shoreline docks and a gravel parking lot. The lot has 49 vehicle/trailer spaces and seven single car spaces. This marks the completion of the first phase of the project. The Commission is currently pursuing local partnerships to complete the final phase which will include additional commercial fishing facilities as well as a kayak and canoe launching area. More here.

 

Home for the Holidays is Also Home From the Hunt

Enjoy hunting with family and friends as a part of your holiday season?  The Home From The Hunt™ campaign reminds you to put safety first. Learn how.

 

Christmas for the Birds

Set a new Christmas tradition this year by participating in the 113th Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count from Dec. 14 until Jan. 5. Whether you’re a backyard birder or a serious field observer, you can make an enormous contribution to bird conservation by observing and counting birds in your area. Data from the Christmas Bird Count, along with other data, are used by the Commission and other state and federal wildlife agencies to evaluate which bird species are in decline and which are expanding.  Find out more about this longest-running citizen-science survey in the world and how you can participate. Participation is FREE.

The Commission conducts many other projects on behalf on nongame wildlife in North Carolina. Find out more by visiting our Wildlife Diversity page.

 

 A Gift for All Seasons

Any hunters or anglers on your Christmas list? Get them a subscription to Wildlife in North Carolina! Recent editorial changes include a greater mix of hunting and fishing stories in each issue,  with nongame and conservation stories still running regularly. Go here to give gift subscriptions.

A Gift that Keeps on Giving

Holiday shopping for someone who has everything? An online donation in hisor her honor to the Wildlife Diversity Endowment Fund makes a terrific gift and protects the future ofnongame and endangered species because the accrued interest, not the principle,will be spent on programs that benefit animals not hunted or fished — from bogturtles in western North Carolina, to red-cockaded woodpeckers in the Sandhillsto colonial waterbirds along the coast.

 An Easy Christmas Shopping Opportunity

Give a Becoming an Outdoors-Woman gift certificate for $225 per person and the recipient will enjoy a weekend workshop at YMCA Camp Harrison Herring Ridge in Wilkes County, May 3-5.Find this and other great gifts online.