North Carolina Wildlife Federation

Say goodbye for now to our NC hummers ?? Ruby-throated hummingbirds are leaving for Central and South America. But don't worry! They'll be back as things warm up again this coming spring. Want to learn more about North Carolina's hummingbird species and the ecosystem services they provide? Check out our blog post The Wide World of Pollinators – A Look at 5 of NC’s Lesser Known Pollinators: https://lnkd.in/e26ynqMx

Announcing the winners of the 6th Annual NCWF Wildlife Photo Contest!?? Photographers across the state perfectly captured the beauty and diversity of our state’s natural resources for North Carolina Wildlife Federation’s 6th Annual Wildlife Photography Contest. NCWF received over 1,000 submissions from professional, amateur and youth photographers highlighting North Carolina’s wildlife and habitat – from the coast to the mountains. Categories included Critters, People in Nature, Scenes of North Carolina and Pollinators, and were anonymously presented to a panel of 15 judges to determine who would be this years winners and honorable mentions. Check out the winning photos on our website: https://lnkd.in/eam47fzz

Who's ready for those fall colors?? ???? Some of the most glorious colors of autumn in North Carolina come from our beautiful red maples... here's a little bit about them: - The Red maple (Acer rubrum) has the greatest north-south range of any tree species living in the eastern forests (Newfoundland to south Florida). -The fruits of the Red maple are called "samaras", and are a popular food source for birds and squirrels. - Alongside the Loblolly pine and Sweetgum trees, Red maples are one of the most common trees in the United States. - Red maple tree sap can be used to make maple syrup, though it is not as prized as syrup made from the Sugar maple tree.

From the way you secure your workplace trash bins to how you design and maintain your backyard gardens, small changes can make a big difference in preventing harm to wildlife. By taking proactive and mindful steps to safeguard these spaces, you can protect wildlife and reduce negative human/wildlife interactions, interactions which can cause harm to people and wildlife alike. Luckily, these steps are simple, and go a long way towards creating better habitat for the wildlife around us. Wildlife-Friendly Urban Spaces: 10 Ways to Secure Your Land, Gardens, and Trash for Wildlife is up! : https://lnkd.in/eEKSX9ZJ

Quiz time: What are North Carolina's FIVE species of squirrel? Put your answers in the comments! ?? And then when you're done, check out our blog post "Get Squirrely: What You May Not Know About NC’s Five Squirrel Species": https://lnkd.in/dZesYBgq #UrbanWildlife #squirrel #squirrels #wildlife #conservation #northcarolina

Wildlife is resilient. It thrives in the rich backcountry of the state – the broad expanses of western North Carolina Mountains, the Coastal Plains, and the Piedmont pine savannas. But often overlooked are the species that exist outside of these areas, the species whose homes are closer to urban centers, what might be collectively referred to as urban wildlife. North Carolina holds a vibrant diversity of wildlife across the state. Many of these species are specially adapted to specific habitats containing unique food and water sources, nesting habitat, and mating grounds. There is much concern surrounding the fever-pitch expansion of urban centers into previously undeveloped natural areas. Urbanization, habitat degradation and fragmentation are indeed some of the largest threats facing wildlife. But nevertheless, wildlife finds a way to push through the threatening elements of these urban spaces... particularly when steps are taken by the conservation community to make them safer and more hospitable for our urban wildlife. Learn more at ncwf.org. #UrbanWildlife #wildlife #conservation #northcarolina #fox #redfox

We have been closely monitoring the effects of Hurricane Helene across our State and - in particular - western North Carolina. Our hearts are heavy as more details come forth and as we are all absorbing the shock of the deadly and catastrophic impact of Hurricane Helene. Record-level flooding has either decimated communities, or has left them without communications and other basic and essential infrastructure. While emergency responders work to stabilize immediate threats, the gravity of the long road ahead looms large. Right now, we grieve with all the people and communities caught in the wake of this disaster. In the meantime, we will listen and learn where our organization’s assistance is most suited - and we we will act accordingly. We will come back as a State. How long and to what end is unknown. For now, we pray and hope for the best… and we stand ready, at the right time, to go into action in support of the recovery of our natural resources and the communities that depend upon them. - Tim Gestwicki, CEO North Carolina Wildlife Federation Need to report missing persons, hazardous conditions or get help in Western North Carolina? Find out more: https://conta.cc/3XEKV9O

Imagine being born literally ?sun-dappled? Fawns are born with light-colored spots across their body that aid in camouflaging them on the sun-dappled forest floor. This is especially useful as does will often leave their fawns to bed down in protective places while they go off to continue foraging and patrolling their territory. This time of year, fawns are losing these camouflaging spots, but the fawn will typically stay with its mother for several months to a year while the mother teaches it to forage and to watch for predators. It is common in the late spring and early summer to stumble across a bedded fawn that may appear abandoned. However, NCWRC urges people to leave these fawns alone. Even when not visible, the mother is normally nearby to a young fawn and will return to its side once intruding humans or other threats have left the area. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eVuc7zft

This is us, now that our judges have submitted their photo selections for the 6th Annual NCWF Wildlife Photo Contest! ???? jk, its actually a bobwhite quail, but you get the idea. Our panel of 15 judges have submitted their final selections for the winners of this year's photo contest, and votes are being tallied! ?? Who's excited to see this year's winning photos???

Bog turtle nests are hatching in the Mountains and Foothills!?? The southern bog turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii) is the smallest turtle in North America, and only grows to less than five inches in length, roughly the width of the human palm. The species is listed as threatened, with only 100 populations found within 24 counties in western North Carolina. Their decline is attributed almost entirely to the loss of bog habitat which the turtle depends upon. To find out more, head to: https://lnkd.in/epaCF724