RALEIGH, N.C. (Dec. 21, 2010) – Jeremy Harrill, a wildlife officer with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission since 2003, has been promoted to sergeant in District 7, serving the northwestern region of the state. Harrill will lead a patrol of four officers who conduct law enforcement operations for hunting, trapping, fishing and boating laws. He will also provide hunting education and boating education programs for the region. "I love my job as a wildlife enforcement officer and feel extremely blessed to have a job where I can play a very active part in being a steward of God’s creation,” Sgt. Harrill said. “I enjoy working with the sportsmen of this state, so we can together protect our natural resources and hunting traditions for future generations.” Harrill is originally from – and grew up in – Ellenboro, in Rutherford County. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in wildlife biology from N.C. State

RALEIGH, N.C. (Dec. 15, 2010) – Wildlife Officers of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission were among those honored for their vigilance against drunk driving, during a ceremony at the U.S.S. North Carolina battleship memorial in Wilmington on Dec. 10. Justice in Motion and the Governor’s Highway Safety Program lighted a special Christmas tree inside the U.S.S. North Carolina auditorium, with each strand of ornaments representing an agency, group or individual working to prevent alcohol-related highway fatalities. The mission of the Governor’s Highway Safety Program is to promote highway safety awareness and reduce the number of traffic crashes and fatalities in the state of North Carolina through the planning and execution of safety programs.  The drunk driving targeted by wildlife officers is most often impaired boat operators. North Carolina sets the same limit for intoxication – .08 blood alcohol concentration – for

RALEIGH, N.C. (Dec.15, 2010) – As part of Duke Energy’s work on dams on Lake James, the Boating Access Areas at Linville and Black Bear will be closed while the lake is lowered.  Two ramps at Linville are currently closed. The six ramps at Black Bear will begin closing over the next two weeks. Every effort will be made to leave one ramp open at Black Bear while the water is low. The ramps are scheduled to reopen in spring 2011, when Duke Energy completes its work and the lake refills. The Bridgewater Public Fishing Area, located downstream from the dam at the Catawba River tailrace, is not currently impacted. For up-to-date information on lake levels, visit www.duke-energy.com/lakes/levels.asp or call 800-829-LAKE (5253). More information on boating and fishing in North Carolina, including an interactive map of Boating Access Areas and a list of more than 500 public fishing access areas, visit www.ncwildlife.org/boating_waterways.

RALEIGH, N.C. (Oct. 1, 2010) –  The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is alerting citizens that many access roads to game lands in the coastal region of the state have been closed due to flooding from heavy rains. Closed roads will be barricaded and marked with signs. The Commission will make every effort to open the roads as soon as they are able to withstand vehicular use. Learn more about North Carolina’s game lands, and view an interactive, searchable map.

RALEIGH, N.C. (Sept. 24, 2010) – The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will implement delayed-harvest regulations on 22 trout waters in 15 western North Carolina counties on Oct. 1. Before Oct. 1, hatchery-supported regulations apply to these waters. Under delayed-harvest regulations, no trout can be harvested or possessed from these waters between Oct. 1, 2010, and one half-hour after sunset on June 3, 2011. No natural bait is allowed, and anglers can fish only with single-hook, artificial lures. An artificial lure is defined as a fishing lure that neither contains nor has been treated with any substance that attracts fish by the sense of taste or smell. Continued drought conditions in western North Carolina may result in reducing the number of trout scheduled for stocking in delayed-harvest trout waters in October. Staff will be assessing all the delayed-harvest waters from now until Oct. 1 to determine if reduced stockings are necessary. “All