N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Law Enforcement Division swore in 18 new wildlife law enforcement officers at the 60th Basic School graduation ceremony today in Pinehurst. Officers took an oath to enforce criminal laws, including conservation and boating laws, and to faithfully and impartially execute the duties of a North Carolina law enforcement officer. Graduates will now begin on-the-job training under the supervision of a veteran wildlife officer. Upon completion of field training, they will be assigned a permanent duty station within the state. Back row from left, Training Director Lt. Darby Enoch, Joshua Collins, Jonathan McLawhorn, Tyler Clark, Zachary Jurkovski, John Schlegel, Chandler McClamrock, Jonathan Montague, Walter Hill and Joshua Goodman. Front row from left, Hannah Kerrigan, Austin Keever, Garrett Brown, Austin Lear, Vincent Capano, Adam Congdon, Noah Gosner, Justin Eckart, Brett Shreve and Assistant Training Director Sgt. Garrett Gooch.

The NC Wildlife Resources Commission is offering five free "Learn to Hunt" Workshops in August. Be sure to pre-register at the links provided. Deer Hunting, Sat. Aug. 3, Fort Liberty (https://bit.ly/3Y5dBL6) Upland Game Hunting, Sun. Aug. 4, Ellerbe (https://bit.ly/4bSKCNQ) Deer Hunting, Sat. Aug. 10, Camp Lejeune (https://bit.ly/3zMYDzr) Deer Hunting, Sat. Aug 17, Waynesville (https://bit.ly/46cWFoa) Bear Hunting, Sun. Aug. 18, Waynesville (https://bit.ly/4f5t0RM) Deer Hunting, Sat. Aug. 24, Four Oaks (https://bit.ly/46aVXro)

On July 5, 2024, Officer Eric Burkhalter and Sergeant Brandon Lyon were on boat patrol on Lake Norman when a family with small children urgently waved them down near McCrary Creek around 6:20 pm. The mother was holding her 3-year-old daughter, who had a severe leg wound. Officer Burkhalter, who was trained in Tactical Combat Casualty Care while serving in the U.S. military, quickly applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. He then drove their boat to McCrary Creek access as Sergeant Lyon coordinated emergency response. Realizing time was of the essence, Officer Burkhalter ran with the child laying in his arms up the dock and up the steep hill at the ramp to meet the medical first responders and Mooresville Fire Deptartment. Officer Burkhalter stayed with the child and assisted the medical team with obtaining vital signs. Because the lacerations were so deep, the child was transported to a Level 1 trauma hospital in Charlotte. The next day, the child's father reported she was doing well and expected to make a full recovery. We commend Officer Burkhalter and Sergeant Lyon for their quick thinking and heroic actions.

Congrats to Bryan Barnes of Jarvisburg for being chosen as the grand prize winner of the 2023-24 Wildlife in North Carolina Photo Competition. His winning photo, titled "Rabid Wolf Spider," was selected out of more than 1,500 entries and is featured on the cover of the July/August issue of Wildlife in North Carolina magazine. Barnes on his prize-winning photo: "Wolf spiders are one of the only bugs that are easy to find year-round in the Outer Banks. I came across this rabid wolf spider in the woods near my house one night last fall. She was hunting in the pine straw and carrying hundreds of babies on her back. I had to dig a shallow hole to get the camera low enough to be level with her eyes and I lay down for this shot. This is shot with a 90mm lens and a 2x teleconverter on a MFT for a 360mm full-frame equivalence, giving me a large working distance for a greater depth of field. I cropped it in close." (Olympus OM1, Olympus 90mm macro, Olympus 2x teleconverter, f/13, 1/250 of a second, ISO 1600, Godox V350 flash, AK diffuser)

Results from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s (NCWRC) 2024 Wild Turkey Harvest Summary report show that hunters recorded 24,074 birds harvested statewide in 2024, including 2,372 birds taken during the youth season. Hunters harvested 15 fewer turkeys than last year’s record total, making the 2024 Spring Turkey season the second-highest year on record. Both the Mountain and Coastal ecoregions reported increases in harvest numbers compared to the 2023 season, particularly in the Coastal region. Read more: https://bit.ly/4cDeL4X

Here are some Operation Dry Water campaign stats from over the holiday weekend: Boaters Contacted: 4,967 Boats Checked: 1,332 Warnings Issued: 704 Citations Issued: 436 Boaters Operating Under the Influence: 37 Incidents Investigated: 6 Remember: If alcohol is involved, be sure to designate a sober operator to get everyone home safely.

The NC Wildlife Resources Commission conducts bat mistnetting surveys from May to August each year at long-term monitoring sites across the state. These surveys track population trends of Species of Greatest Concern bats, but also help monitor populations of common bats, as well. In addition to long-term monitoring sites, a few new sites are mistnetted each year to target rare species or areas of the state with knowledge gaps. Mistnetting surveys are one of four long-term monitoring approaches the Wildlife Commission uses to keep tabs on bat populations. Unlike the other three survey methods (acoustic surveys, hibernaculum surveys and roost surveys), mistnetting surveys provide a hands-on look at individuals, which can give us a deeper understanding of a local population. We gain important data like evidence of reproduction, age, and health of individual bats, so these surveys are a crucial component of our agency's bat monitoring efforts. Mistnetting also makes for a fun (albeit buggy) night in the field!

Our offices are closed today in observance of Independence Day, but you can still get your hunting/fishing licenses at: https://lnkd.in/e3HDmWQD Hope everyone takes some time to go outdoors with some family and friends today!

Before hitting the beach this summer, visitors should remember to “share the shore” with beach-nesting birds, giving them, their eggs and chicks a wide berth. Beachgoers can help protect nesting shorebirds are by: - Keeping dogs on a leash at all times. Dogs may chase and harass birds, as well as trample nests, killing chicks or crushing eggs. - Following the beach driving regulations. If driving is permitted, only drive on the lower part of the beach and drive slowly enough to avoid running over chicks. - Disposing of trash properly when leaving the beach, including bait and scraps from cleaned fish, which can attract predators such as gulls, raccoons, feral cats and foxes. - Discarding fishing line and kite string in an appropriate receptacle. These materials can entangle and kill birds and other wildlife if left on the beach. - Abstaining from feeding gulls. Gulls are a major predator of young chicks and eggs. - Avoiding flying drones and kites near nesting colonies. They may be mistaken for a predator.

Anyone who catches a BIG fish in 2024 can get official NC Wildlife Resources Commission recognition for the accomplishment. The N.C. Angler Recognition Program has moved to an online system. Now anglers can submit their catch info from their phone, tablet or computer to receive a downloadable, printable PDF certificate. Anglers can also share a photo of their fish with us! Learn more and submit your big catch at: https://bit.ly/3zgiKFU Pictured: Tyler U. with a Largemouth Bass caught in Halls Creek.