NORTH CAROLINA WILDLIFE RESOURCES COMMISSION
WILDLIFE DIVERSITY PROGRAM QUARTERLY REPORT April–June 2025
Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for April–June 2025
STAY CONNECTED WITH THE N.C. WILDLIFE RESOURCES COMMISSION ncwildlife.gov
On the cover, clockwise from top left: Spotted Turtle, photo by Jeff Hall, dip-netting for amphibians, photo by Elijah Thompson, Carolina Sandhills Salamander, photo by Jeff Hall, and Pileated Woodpeckers, photo by Jay Wherley.
Contents photos from left: Gopher Frog head-start, photo by Aubrey Heupel Greene and Barred Owl chick, photo by Fleeta Chauvigne.
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Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for April–June 2025
Table of Contents Wildlife Diversity Program Staff ..........................................................................................................4 Looking Back at Five Years of Alligator Spotlight Surveys ......................................................................6 Monitoring Day and Night .................................................................................................................... 7 Emerging Gopher Frog News ..............................................................................................................8 The Jersey Shore Flocks to NC - Banded Piping Plover Spotted in Carteret County ...................................... 9 Post-Helene Bird Monitoring ............................................................................................................10 Wood Thrush Nanotagging ...............................................................................................................11 Monitoring Bog Turtle Populations Post-Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina ............................. 12 Backyard Snakes and a Bioblitz ......................................................................................................... 13 Turtles, Frogs, and Snakes, Oh My! ..................................................................................................... 13 The Secret Lives of Breeding Birds .................................................................................................... 14 Post-Hurricane Helene Bat Surveys Show Reduced Gray Bat Counts ..................................................15 Keeping Tabs on Sea Turtle Habitat ..................................................................................................16 Detections of Eastern Hellbenders Post Hurricane Helene .................................................................17 Woodrats in Western North Carolina .................................................................................................19 New Colony Discovered During Annual Wood Stork Monitoring Survey ................................................20 Development of Genetic Tools to Aid in the Restoration of Two Federally Endangered Mussel Species, the Tar River Spinymussel and Yellow Lance ......................................................... 20 Robust Redhorse Sampling and Propagation ....................................................................................... 21 Cape Fear Shiner Broodstock Collection ............................................................................................. 21 New Hope Creek Mussel Relocation .................................................................................................22 Monitoring the Movement and Habitat Use of Stocked Carolina Madtoms in Sandy Creek ....................... 23 Hurricane Helene Monitoring and Woody Debris Technical Guidance in the Foothills Region of the Aquatic Wildlife Diversity Program ................................................................................................. 24
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Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for April–June 2025
The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission’s (NCWRC) Wildlife Diversity (WD) Program is housed within the agency’s Inland Fisheries (Aquatic Wildlife Diversity) and Wildlife Management divisions. Program responsi- bilities principally include surveys, research and other projects for nongame and endangered wildlife species. Nongame species are animals without an open hunting, fishing or trapping season.
Wildlife Diversity Program Staff
Dr. Sara Schweitzer, Assistant Chief, Wildlife Management Division, Wildlife Diversity Program sara.schweitzer@ncwildlife.gov; Wake County Rachael Hoch, Assistant Chief of Fisheries, Inland Fisheries Division, Aquatic Wildlife Diversity
rachael.hoch@ncwildlife.gov; Wake County Scott Anderson, Science Support Coordinator scott.anderson@ncwildlife.gov; Wake County John Carpenter, Eastern Landbird Biologist john.carpenter@ncwildlife.gov; New Hanover County
Karen Clark, Science Support Specialist karen.clark@ncwildlife.gov; Coastal Region Kacy Cook, Waterbird Biologist kacy.cook@ncwildlife.gov; Onslow County Katherine Etchison, Mammalogist katherine.etchison@ncwildlife.gov; Buncombe County Dr. Luke Etchison, Western Region Aquatic Wildlife Diversity Coordinator luke.etchison@ncwildlife.gov; Haywood County Michael Fisk, Eastern Region Aquatic Wildlife Diversity Coordinator michael.fisk@ncwildlife.gov; Lee County
Sarah Finn, Coastal Wildlife Diversity Biologist sarah.finn@ncwildlife.gov; New Hanover County
Gabrielle Graeter, Conservation Biologist/Herpetologist gabrielle.graeter@ncwildlife.gov; Buncombe County Aubrey Greene, Wildlife Diversity Biologist/Herpetologist aubrey.greene@ncwildlife.gov; Moore County Dr. Matthew Godfrey, Sea Turtle Biologist matt.godfrey@ncwildlife.gov; Carteret County Jeff Hall, Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Biologist jeff.hall@ncwildlife.gov; Pitt County Silas Hernandez, Landbird Technician silas.hernandez@ncwildlife.gov; Pender County Carmen Johnson, Waterbird Biologist carmen.johnson@ncwildlife.gov; Craven County
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Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for April–June 2025
Brena Jones, Central Region Aquatic Wildlife Diversity Coordinator brena.jones@ncwildlife.gov; Granville County Chris Kelly, Western Bird and Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel Biologist christine.kelly@ncwildlife.gov; Buncombe County
CC King, Science Support Specialist cc.king@ncwildlife.gov; Piedmont Region
Amber Olson, Eastern Listed Species Biologist amber.olson@ncwildlife.gov; Alamance County Dylan Owensby, Western Region Aquatic Wildlife Diversity Biologist dylan.owensby@ncwildlife.gov; Haywood County Michael Perkins, Foothills Region Aquatic Wildlife Diversity Biologist michael.perkins@ncwildlife.gov; McDowell County Claire Reilly, Waterbird Technician claire.reilly@ncwildlife.gov; Craven County Langston Rimmer, Central Region Aquatic Wildlife Diversity Biologist langston.rimmer@ncwildlife.gov; Alamance County Rosie Ronca, Herpetologist Technician rosie.ronca@ncwildlife.gov; Buncombe County Chantelle Rondel, Western Aquatic Listed Species Biologist chantelle.rondel@ncwildlife.gov; Macon County TR Russ, Aquatic Wildlife Diversity Survey and Monitoring Supervisor thomas.russ@ncwildlife.gov; McDowell County Lee Sherrill, Science Support Specialist lee.sherrill@ncwildlife.gov; Mountain Region Andrea Shipley, Mammalogist (shared staff with Surveys & Research) andrea.shipley@ncwildlife.gov; Nash County Hope Sutton, Eastern Wildlife Diversity Supervisor hope.sutton@ncwildlife.gov; New Hanover County Mike Walter, Eastern Region Aquatic Wildlife Diversity Biologist michael.walter@ncwildlife.gov; Alamance County
Alicia Davis Wassmer, Alligator Biologist alicia.wassmer@ncwildlife.gov; Wake County Joey Weber, Bat Technician joey.weber@ncwildlife.gov; Haywood County
Kendrick Weeks, Western Wildlife Diversity Supervisor kendrick.weeks@ncwildlife.gov; Henderson County Lori Williams, Western Amphibian Biologist lori.williams@ncwildlife.gov; Henderson County
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Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for April–June 2025
Looking Back at Five Years of Alligator Spotlight Surveys by Alicia Wassmer, Alligator Biologist; Liz Scarlett, Alligator Conservation Technician
A lligator spotlight surveys have been conducted between May 1st to June 15th each year since 2021. The objective of these surveys is to detect alli- gator population trends in the 10 Alligator Manage- ment Unit 1 counties: Columbus, Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender, Onslow, Jones, Carteret, Craven, Pamlico, and Hyde. These boat-based surveys, con- ducted in publicly accessible waterways, include 2 routes per county. The goal is to survey each route on two consecutive nights for a total of 40 survey nights per season. This year, 42 staff from Wildlife Manage- ment, Land & Water Access, and Law Enforcement divisions participated in these surveys. Staff per- formed vital roles such as boat driver, surveyor, and/ or data recorder. Additionally, two volunteers from UNCW joined surveys in Jones and Craven counties. This tremendous survey process could not be com- pleted without significant collaboration across divi- sions. Wildlife Diversity staff heartily thank all NCWRC staff and supervisors who conducted alliga- tor spotlight surveys in the field and assisted with scheduling, resource coordination, and safety coordi- nation from the office!
LIZ SCARLETT/NCWRC
Driving to the survey start point on Bear Creek in 2022.
Chart A. Alligator Spotlight Survey Participants Wildlife Management Law Enforcement Land & Water Access Inland Fisheries External Volunteers Alligator Spotlight Survey Participants
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Chart B. Alligator Spotlight Survey Participant Nights (2021-2025) Alligator Spotlight Survey Participant Nights (2021-2025)
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External Volunteers 13
Inland Fisheries 2
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Land & Water Access 111
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Wildlife Management 250
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Law Enforcement 144
0
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
The total number of Participant Survey Nights from 2021 to 2025. To date, staff have contributed to 507 Survey Nights. There have also been 13 external volunteer Participant Survey Nights for alligator spotlight surveys to date.
The number of individual participants from each division from 2021–2025. Staff participation ranged from a minimum of 1 survey night to a maximum of 14 survey nights within a single season. The median number of survey nights that staff con- ducted was 2.
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Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for April–June 2025
Monitoring Day and Night by Aubrey Heupel Greene, Wildlife Diversity Biologist T he Sandhills herpetology staff spent the spring months monitoring amphibians both day and night. Days were spent dip-netting ephemeral (temporary) wetlands for larval amphibians, while nighttime was for frog call surveys throughout the region. Sampling with dip nets is part of a long-term monitoring project to assess wetland restoration efforts on Sandhills Game Land. We visited all 24 study wetlands and 16 had sufficient water for sampling. Eight wetlands were dry during most of the spring survey period (mid-April through mid-June), but recent rains should make for great summer surveys! Species detected varied by site but overall, we detected 10 frog species and one species of salamander. The highlight was the large schools of spadefoot toad tadpoles that made the water look like it was boiling as they surfaced to gulp air. They were already emerging from one wetland; there were so many it looked like the ground was moving! We are conducting night surveys for the second year of pine barrens treefrog monitoring. Surveys have been more fruitful this year because it’s been a rainy spring/early sum- mer. We conducted the first survey after a warm rain event on
March 31st and detected the first pine barrens treefrogs of the season — earlier than expected! Over the course of the quarter, we con- ducted 20 night surveys, visiting 134 unique sites across the Sandhills region. Of those sites, pine barrens treefrogs were calling at 26. We have also heard 16 addi- tional species, including oak toads, another Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) in North Carolina. Night surveys will continue through July so long as the rains continue!
ELIJAH THOMPSON
AUBREY HEUPEL GREENE/NCWRC
AUBREY HEUPEL GREENE/NCWRC
Dip-netting – Staff walking to a wetland to dipnet for amphibians. Left: Spadefoot Toad Tadpoles – Dipnet full of tadpoles. Right: Spadefoot Toad Tadpole Schools – large schools of tadpoles ob- served in an ephemeral wetland while dip-netting
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Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for April–June 2025
Emerging Gopher Frog News by Aubrey Heupel Greene, Wildlife Diversity Biologist G opher frog breeding season in North Carolina is usually thought to occur from February through March, some- times early April. However, we saw no breeding activity on Sandhills Game Land during this timeframe due to low water levels and little rain. We had all but given up on seeing any breeding activity this year when we received heavy rains in May and surveyed for egg masses, just in case. We were sur- prised and thrilled to find an egg mass at the reintroduction pond on Sandhills Game Land. A portion of that egg mass is being raised by our partners at the NC Zoo. The tadpoles are growing quickly and will likely metamorphose later this year for release back to their natal pond. Meanwhile, the tadpoles from our last unexpected breed- ing event in September are beginning to metamorphose and we started releasing these head-started individuals back to the ponds in June. So far 38 froglets have been released, and the remaining tadpoles will emerge and be ready for release over the next few weeks. All good news for this State Endan- gered species!
Top: Metamorph gopher frogs ready for release. Left: Metamorph gopher frog sitting on a lily pad after release.
AUBREY HEUPEL GREENE/NCWRC
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Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for April–June 2025
The Jersey Shore Flocks to NC - Banded Piping Plover Spotted in Carteret County by Carmen Johnson, Waterbird Biologist; Claire Reilly and Jacob Krueger, Waterbird Technicians
W hile conducting surveys in Carteret County in mid-May, the Waterbird Team spotted a Piping Plover wearing some very fash- ionable accessories—black, gray, and orange leg bands on the upper legs. The unique combination of colors and placement on the legs indi- cate where a bird was originally banded and which agency did the band- ing. The bird, whose nickname is ‘Caraxes,’ hatched in New Jersey at Barnegat Light Restoration Area, a state park on the northern tip of Long Beach Island in 2024. Caraxes was banded by the New Jersey Department of Fish & Wildlife (NJDFW) along with two siblings. Sub- sequently, all three birds successfully fledged. Each year NJDFW chooses a theme to name the Piping Plovers that hatch in the state, and, in 2024, the theme was Game of Thrones. The chicks in Caraxes’ brood were each named after a dragon from the series. Her brother, Meleys, has been spotted back in New Jersey, but the whereabouts of her other sibling, Sunfyre, are unknown. This was the first resighting of Caraxes since she fledged. NCWRC and the National Park Service are monitor- ing areas near where Caraxes was seen in the hope that this Jersey bird has decided to nest on the North Carolina coast this season.
JACOB KRUEGER/NCWRC
Top: Banded Piping Plover ‘Caraxes.’ Bottom: Jacob Krueger, volunteer Pierre Beaurang, and Claire Reilly count and monitor birds from a shallow water vantage point to minimize disturbance to the birds as they forage.
CARMEN JOHNSON/NCWRC
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Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for April–June 2025
Forest blowdown in an important area for Cerulean War- blers. Forest disturbance is natural and needed, but biolo- gists wonder if this degree of canopy loss may exceed a threshold for the likes of Cerulean Warbler, Wood Thrush, and other species that need mature forest.
CHRIS KELLY/NCWRC
Post-Helene Bird Monitoring by Chris Kelly, Western Bird and Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel Biologist
I n May and June 2025, the mountain bird crew set out with some trepidation to assess impacts of Hurricane Helene to bird communities and habitats. With such large areas impacted, we narrowed our assessment to locations where we had pre-existing avian datasets. We approached our work well aware that this first season after the hurricane may not be representative of how the bird community will look over the next few years because many of the long-distance migrants have extremely high site fidelity and will come back from the wintering grounds to their former territories only to find them unrecognizable. Furthermore, some of these species have restricted ranges or very specific habitat requirements that the remaining forest no longer meets. With that caveat, our May and June observations highlight that the birds did return but were shifting throughout the season in attempts to find suitable nest cover. For example, during a visit in early May, overall Cerulean Warbler numbers were higher than usual, and more individuals were detected at monitoring points on the upper end of the transect than usual. However, during a mid-May visit, no Cerulean Warblers were detected at the upper end of the transect and overall numbers were down, suggesting individuals had moved on in search of suitable habitat elsewhere.
Having only seen photos of some of these sites before our sur- veys, it was honestly hard to look at the areas Helene hit the hardest. Forest disturbance is natural and important for so many species, including forest-dwelling bird species, some of which bring their fledglings to young forest and openings. But Helene was an incredibly powerful storm and, unfortunately, some of western NC’s most sensitive ecosystems, high quality mature for- est, and robust forest bird populations, were in its crosshairs. In fact, the storm struck the dead center of North Carolina’s largest Cerulean Warbler population, which was small to begin with. Species such as Veery, Wood Thrush, Worm-eating Warbler, and the stunning Blackburnian Warbler—all dependent on mature, intact forest or closed canopy—are likely to decline in this area. The response of Cerulean Warblers remains to be seen, as this species can use thinned forest stands. We anticipate a surge in Chestnut-sided Warblers, Hooded Warblers, and Indigo Bun- tings. Ironically, one species that would greatly benefit from this type and scale of disturbance, the Golden-winged Warbler, does not occur in the mountain drainage with the most severe blow- down. Whatever happens, we will be watching and listening for many years to come.
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Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for April–June 2025
Wood Thrush Nanotagging by Chris Kelly, Western Bird and Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel Biologist
T he Wood Thrush is a priority species in 25 U.S. states and several Canadian provinces, and is a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in North Carolina. This year, NCWRC joined a rangewide Wood Thrush nanotagging project. And when we say rangewide, we really mean it! Bird conservation partners from North America and Central America are partic- ipating in this hemispheric research and conservation project across the Wood Thrush’s breeding and nonbreeding ranges. The objective is to better understand migratory connections, routes, timing, and survival across their full annual cycle. This understanding is needed so biologists can address the species’ conservation needs throughout its range and to improve the design of targeted habitat management actions. In May and June 2025, the mountain bird crew banded 22 Wood Thrush in Jackson, Transylvania, and Buncombe coun- ties, and fitted 11 of those with nanotags that communicate with the Motus Wildlife Tracking Network. The crew will ground-track the birds throughout the summer, then wait to see if they return next year or “ping” any Motus stations on migration. Motus detections can start painting a more granu- lar picture of a Wood Thrush’s annual travels. For example, a series of detections at one station over several days or weeks may reveal high quality habitat where a bird lingers to re-fuel. With partners across the Americas participating, quick action can follow to visit the site, interact with the community, and determine if the site would benefit from protection or targeted habitat management actions.
TOM WARD
CHRIS KELLY/NCWRC
Top: Wildlife Diversity Technician Clifton Avery with a nanotagged Wood Thrush. Note the antenna. Bottom: A Wood Thrush wear- ing a nanotag that can communicate with the Motus Wildlife Tracking Network.
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Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for April–June 2025
Monitoring Bog Turtle Populations Post-Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina
by Rosemary Ronca; Gabrielle Graeter, Western Region Reptile Biologist
T he southern lineage of the bog turtle (Glyptemys muhlenber- gii) is both state and federally threatened and a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in North Carolina. During the land- fall of Hurricane Helene in September 2024 in western NC, the habitat at many of the best known populations of bog turtle pop- ulations in the state were hit with severe flooding and in some cases, extreme impacts to the habitat. There were sediment depos- its of sand and rubble washed in from upstream, sections of ground scoured by fast moving water, and an increase in fallen trees and other woody debris. Due to the altered landscapes within the watershed of these bogs, the impacts were worse than they would have been in a natural floodplain wetland complex. Initially, our team conducted standardized assessments of many of the bogs in North Carolina to determine physical damage to the habitats, and in late Spring 2025, we began to monitor and assess bog turtle populations post-Helene. Initially, we surveyed bogs using probing sticks and hand noodling techniques to search for turtles. We also included passive techniques to help assess some of our hardest hit populations – five properties were selected to retrap using our bucket camera trapping (BCT) protocol. These five sites had previously been trapped in 2021, and we repeated the same methods and effort in Spring 2025, which will allow us to compare relative abundance estimates pre- and post-Helene. We are hopeful for the survival of bog turtles at the impacted populations in North Carolina. Living turtles have been encoun- tered at each of the bogs which were most heavily impacted from the storm, including one site which was under ~13 feet of water at the peak, and estimated to be under flood waters for over 50 hours. Additionally, the living turtles that we encountered were from various age classes, including juveniles, sub-adults, and adults. We also found nests at most of the bogs where we historically found evidence of reproduction. Though it will take several years of repeated surveying to begin to understand the impact of Hurricane Helene on these popula- tions, we are seeing promising indicators that the populations may recover in time.
GABRIELLE GRAETER/NCWRC
Top: Partners from the USFWS and Amphibian & Reptile Conservancy (ARC) assist with surveys at a bog by using probing sticks and hands (noodling) to locate bog turtles in vegetation, mud, or water. Bottom left: A juvenile bog turtle found at one of the heavily impacted sites. The turtles that were found were typically in good condition and did not show signs of storm-related injuries. Bottom right: A bog turtle nest found on a raised mound of vegetation at a bog. We either pro- tect nests that we find by installing wire-mesh cages over them to reduce the chance of predation, or by collecting the eggs to incubate and head-start them at Zoo Knoxville.
GABRIELLE GRAETER/NCWRC
GABRIELLE GRAETER/NCWRC
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Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for April–June 2025
Backyard Snakes and a Bioblitz
by Jeff Hall, NCPARC Biologist
NCPARC sponsored two Backyard Snake events during April, targeting local triangle areas to help learn about snake identification and conservation. The events were held in Cary and Apex with each one attracting several hundred attendees. Staff also par- ticipated in a BioBlitz at Carver’s Creek State Park in the Sandhills. One of the species found during this 24-hour survey was a relatively newly described species, the Caro- lina Sandhills Salamander. This was the first adult found in Cumberland County.
JEFF HALL/NCWRC
Above: Carolina Sandhills Salamander. Left: Kids at one of the Backyard Snake events. Below: Timber Rattlesnake
JEFF HALL/NCWRC
JEFF HALL/NCWRC
Turtles, Frogs, and Snakes, Oh My!
by Jeff Hall, NCPARC Biologist
WRC staff focused on several species during the spring months including Spotted Turtles, Gopher Frogs, and Timber Rattlesnakes. In addition to these species, many other SGCN reptiles and amphibians were encountered on WRC managed lands, as well as other public and pri- vate lands across the Coastal Plain and Mountain regions. Of particular note, with the wonderful help of partner agencies, over 500 young Gopher Frogs were able to be released into the wild from head-starting efforts. Partner agencies include the North Carolina Zoo, the North Car- olina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, NCSU’s Center for Marine and Science Technology (CMAST), and the USFWS Edenton National Fish Hatchery. They say it takes a vil- lage, and we have several villages working diligently on Gopher Frog conservation!
JEFF HALL/NCWRC
JEFF HALL/NCWRC
JEFF HALL/NCWRC
NATHAN VAUGHAN
Above Clockwise: Spotted Turtle; Gopher Frog release including part- ners; Scarlet Kingsnake; Gopher Frog.
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Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for April–June 2025
The Secret Lives of Breeding Birds
by John Carpenter, Eastern Landbird Biologist, and CC King, Science Support Specialist
A primary goal of the North Carolina Bird Atlas is to confirm breeding for as many species as possible. This goal can be achieved in several ways, such as observing an active nest or watch- ing an adult carry food to a hungry nestling. NC Bird Atlas techni- cians and volunteers compile these behaviors through the eBird mobile app, contributing to a substantial bird observation database. In addition, documenting these behaviors with a photograph and subsequently archiving them in eBird’s online media database – the Macaulay Library – is a great way to preserve observations for future use in conservation. The recent release of Wildlife in North Carolina (July-August 2025) Photo Competition demonstrated yet again the unique ability of photographs to reveal nature’s hidden beauty and mystery. Here we demonstrate the commitment of just a few of our dedicated citizen science volunteers and their contributions to the NC Bird Atlas through the use of their camera lenses.
JAY WHERLEY/MACULAY LIBRARY
MICHAEL CHEVES/MACULAY LIBRARY
KAREN SZAFRAJDA/MACULAY LIBRARY
Top l-r: Pileated Woodpecker; Anhinga; Great Crested Flycatcher; Bottom: Osprey
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KAREN SZAFRAJDA/MACULAY LIBRARY
Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for April–June 2025
Post-Hurricane Helene Bat Surveys Show Reduced Gray Bat Counts
by Katherine Etchison, Mammalogist
D uring early Spring 2025, post-Hurricane Helene bat surveys were at the halfway point, and we began to see preliminary results from gray bat roost surveys. Counts at the three roosts with the highest aggregations of gray bats, termed pri- mary roosts, revealed a 25% decline compared to historic counts. Two of the three primary roosts were fully flooded during Hurricane Helene and bats may have been present at the time. Despite the lower than usual gray bat counts, we noticed a few positive signs, such as the return of gray bats to a primary roost that was clogged with storm debris in the months after Helene. We cleaned out the blocked crevices in late winter, and during spring counts, we observed 400 gray bats roosting in the bridge. Another encouraging sign was the capture of a banded gray bat during a mist- netting survey on the Davidson River. The banded individual was first caught at the site in 2023 and was caught again in 2024. In addition to conducting gray bat roost surveys, we established 15 acoustic stations along streams throughout the French Broad River Basin. Data from these sites will be compared to pre-Helene data from the same sites to understand impacts from Helene. We will continue conducting frequent gray bat roost surveys and acoustic monitoring until bats leave the area for hibernation in October.
KATHERINE ETCHISON/NCWRC
KATHERINE ETCHISON/NCWRC
Left: Western Wildlife Diversity Supervisor, Kendrick Weeks, conducts an emergence count on a gray bat bridge roost. Right: Wildlife Diversity Intern, Sara Grace Dalton, U.S. Forest Service Intern, Sarahi Porcayo, and Western Wildlife Diversity Supervisor, Kend- rick Weeks, examine a banded gray bat during a mistnet survey in Transylvania County.
KATHERINE ETCHISON/NCWRC
Above: Wildlife Diversity Technician, Joey Weber, conducts a gray bat roost survey in a culvert. Right: Wildlife Diversity Intern, Sara Grace Dalton, changes batteries on an acoustic detector along Jonathan’s Creek in Haywood County.
KATHERINE ETCHISON/NCWRC
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Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for April–June 2025
Keeping Tabs on Sea Turtle Habitat
by Dr. Matthew Godfrey, Sea Turtle Biologist, and Sarah Finn, Coastal Wildlife Diversity Biologist
I n addition to conducting daily patrols to find and protect sea turtle nests that are laid on the ocean beaches on North Caro- lina, volunteers and cooperators with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission Sea Turtle Project also track the status of the nesting habitat used by sea turtles in the summer months. This habitat assessment includes noting inappropriate sand fencing, logging visible artificial light at night, and documenting steep escarp- ments in the sand near the water line. When higher than 18 inches, these escarpments can block adult female turtles from ascending to the open beach above the high tide line where they normally lay their eggs. Beaches that have recently received sand through a nourishment project are more susceptible to escarpment formation during the re-equili- bration phase of the beach. When tall and persistent beach escarpments occur during the nesting season, the NCWRC Sea Turtle Project works closely with town, county and federal officials to mechanically knock down the escarpments, not only so turtles can access their nest- ing habitat, but also as a safety measure for beach visitors. The work is also conducted during the day, to minimize impacts to female sea turtles that are generally nocturnal nesters, and always in coordination with sea turtle volunteers and cooperators, so all known sea turtle eggs that are incubating on the beach can be avoided. Knocking down escarpments is also good for public safety, as steep erosion cliffs pose a falling hazard to beach visi- tors. As beach nourishment projects become more common in North Carolina, we anticipate an increase in time and effort spent to document and respond to escarpments in during the sea turtle nesting season.
WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH SEA TURTLE PROJECT
Escarpments that formed in Spring 2025 on Wrightsville Beach following a nourishment project in 2024.
WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH SEA TURTLE PROJECT
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Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for April–June 2025
Damage to the Swannanoa River from Hurricane Helene, near the WNC Nature Center, Asheville, fall 2024. Before the flood, this site had a positive eDNA sample for East- ern Hellbender.
ANDREA LESLIE/NCWRC
Detections of Eastern Hellbenders Post Hurricane Helene
by Lori Williams, Western Amphibian Biologist
S ince 2012, we have successfully used environmental DNA (eDNA) water sam- pling as a quick way to survey and monitor streams for the presence of state listed (now, federally proposed, endangered) Eastern Hellbenders (Cryptobranchus a. alleganien- sis) . Post-Hurricane Helene, we are relying on this rapid assessment technique more than ever to begin to understand which Hellbender populations were hit the hard- est by such a devastating, landscape chang- ing event. In the second quarter of 2025, we began focusing eDNA water sampling on historical Hellbender sites ravaged by Helene, such as the Swannanoa River drainage in Buncombe County. The Hellbender population was already poor in this system, yet the Swanna- noa River still produced five positive eDNA samples from 2018-2021 over many miles of river. However, this spring, in the first sam- pling since Helene, 100% (18 out of 18)
water samples taken throughout Swannanoa River were all negative, meaning not a single Hellbender was detected. Thankfully, one tributary of the Swanna- noa system that also had a poor population pre-Helene, produced three out of seven positive eDNA samples in this same survey window, indicating that at least a few ani- mals survived the flood in that tributary. Those animals may be the last of their kind in the whole drainage. For the Swannanoa River itself, Hurri- cane Helene appears to have wiped out this unique species. The last physical records of Hellbenders in Swannanoa River were in 2021, when we rescued and relocated six animals out of harm’s way during a complex, multi-phase, multi-year river restoration project at Veterans Park in Black Mountain. Sadly, Hurricane Helene negated those resto- ration efforts and much more.
BEN DALTON/NCWRC
Above: One of six Eastern Hellbenders rescued and relocated out of harm’s way at the river restoration project in Swannanoa River, Spring 2021. Since Hurricane Helene’s destruction, we now look back and realize this animal was likely one of the last Hellbenders to have lived in Swannanoa River.
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Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for April–June 2025
Below: Wildlife Diversity technician Ben Dalton holding one of six Eastern Hellbenders rescued and relocated out of harm’s way at the restoration project in Swannanoa River, Spring 2021. Since Hurricane Helene’s destruction, we now look back and realize this animal was likely one of the last Hellbenders to have lived in Swannanoa River.
ANDREA LESLIE/NCWRC
Above: Damage to the Swannanoa River from Hurricane Helene, at Veterans Park, Black Mountain, Fall 2024. The extensive river restoration projects completed here in 2021 were destroyed by hurricane impacts.
Below: Late spring 2021: first phase of multiple restoration proj- ects on Swannanoa River at Veterans Park, Black Mountain; staff and project workers were on hand to rescue and relocate Eastern Hellbenders and other aquatic species found during the dewatering phase.
LORI WILLIAMS/NCWRC
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LORI WILLIAMS/NCWRC
Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for April–June 2025
Woodrats in Western North Carolina
by Andrea Shipley, Mammalogist
I n western North Carolina, we have two species of woodrat: the Allegheny woodrat and the Southern Appalachian woodrat. The Allegheny woodrat is found in high-elevation rocky habi- tats. The Southern Appalachian woodrat is also found in rocky communities sometimes but can also live in forests and at lower elevations where they build middens and larger communal nests where they reside. The Allegheny woodrat is in decline in other states within its range, while not much is known about the Southern Appalachian woodrat; therefore, both are species of greatest conservation need in NC. In the late 1990s, Danny Ray, former NCWRC District Biologist, focused his Master’s research on the woodrat and performed woodrat surveys in western NC. He compiled inter- esting information about woodrats in his thesis, but in the interim 20 years, no other research had been performed. Recently, Danny Ray, Colleen Olfenbuttel (Game Mammals and Surveys Supervisor), and I received reports about sites where woodrats had been found previously but where no woodrats had been detected in years. This decline in detec- tions was concerning to us, so we initiated a follow-up pilot project to survey the sites from the late 1990s. We set up cam- era traps at sites that historically had supported woodrats to collect information on woodrat activities as well as mesocarni- vore presence. We wanted to know what time of year to best monitor these sites in the future using camera traps. We ended up collecting over 1.5 million photos from this effort and we needed assistance in going through all the photos and identifying our target species. Clemson University was con- tracted to perform this work and answer our many questions about monitoring woodrat and mesocarnivore presence. Clemson faculty and students tested a private AI platform to identify our species of interest and to determine if this method is efficient for processing photos and these results will be available soon. From this project we found that woodrats were observed on camera for all 15 sites where we camera trapped, and the
best time of year to monitor them is in May and June when they were found to be most active. Conversely, the worst time of the year to monitor them is in January and February when they’re least active. Mesopredators detected in photos included American mink, bobcat, coyote, domestic cat, domestic dog, eastern spotted skunk, gray fox, long-tailed weasel, northern raccoon, red fox, striped skunk, and Virginia opossum. Pres- ence of raccoons is particularly of interest because they carry raccoon roundworm. Raccoon roundworm may be a source of mortality for woodrats and is thought to be the main reason for site extirpation of woodrats in other parts of its range. Rac- coons were found at 13 of the 15 sites we camera trapped. In the future, we will need to survey for raccoon latrines, poten- tially using a detection dog to find their scat, to test if raccoon roundworm is present at these sites. The information gained from this project will help guide development of a long-term monitoring plan and best management practices for woodrats.
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Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for April–June 2025
New Colony Discovered During Annual Wood Stork Monitoring Survey
by Kacy Cook, Waterbird Biologist, and Brooke Callisto, Waterbird Technician
S ince Wood Storks were first reported nesting in North Carolina in 2005, eight nesting locations had been identified. This year, a new Wood Stork colony was discovered just southeast of Lake Waccamaw, raising the total colony locations used across the last two decades to nine. This newest site is in an impoundment with tall, mature, dead and dying cypress trees sur- rounded by open water. At the time of the survey, the colony was determined to have 35 active Wood Stork nests. The remainder of the annual Wood Stork survey yielded three other active colonies at known nesting sites. The location of colonies changes from year to year based on water availability, vegetation condition, and other factors. For the 2025 nesting season, 487 active Wood Stork nests were observed in the four active colo- nies identified.
KACY COOK/NCWRC
Survey of new Wood Stork colony southeast of Lake Waccamaw.
Development of Genetic Tools to Aid in the Restoration of Two Federally Endangered Mussel Species, the Tar River Spinymussel and Yellow Lance
by Dr. Heather Evans, Conservation Genetics Manager
T he NCWRC’s Genetics Program recently completed development of an eDNA assay for Spinymussels. This assay will allow for monitoring and detection of Tar River Spinymussel and James River Spinymussel, both Federally Endangered species. The assay will allow us to utilize a systematic eDNA sampling regime to identify reaches that are likely to contain wild Tar River Spinymussels. The results of this work will potentially result in increased broodstock collections, identification of new sites for broodstock surveys, and optimization of survey efforts dedicated to these species. Additionally, staff completed development of two genetic panels that will be used for mon- itoring of stocked Tar River Spinymussels and Yellow Lance. The panels will allow for high throughput, accurate detection of hatchery-bred individuals. They can be used to monitor percent hatchery contribution across populations as propagation, augmentation and reintro- duction efforts continue. The panels can also be used to monitor genetic diversity and popula- tion structure with ongoing stocking efforts, allowing hatchery managers to protect important allelic diversity in their breeding program.
RACHAEL HOCH/NCWRC
Staff collecting a swab from the foot of a Tar River Spinymussel brood mussel for use in genetic panel development.
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Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for April–June 2025
Robust Redhorse Sampling and Propagation
by Brena Jones, Central Aquatic Wildlife Diversity Coordinator
S taff continued annual cooperative sampling and popula- tion monitoring for Robust Redhorse in the Pee Dee River downstream of Blewett Falls dam, alongside partners in the Yadkin-Pee Dee Technical Working Group, including Duke Energy, SC Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), and SC Aquarium. During targeted spring surveys, there were 86 Robust Redhorse captures in 21.9 hrs of electrofishing, a catch rate of 3.9 fish per hour, which is a new record high for this pop- ulation. Fish ranged in size from five to 29 inches (210 to 738 mm) in total length (TL), representing multiple age classes. Continued successful recruitment of captively reared fish into the wild population was documented once again this year. Eggs from three females were crossed with seven males for captive propagation this year. The resulting fry will be grown out in ponds at NCWRC’s McKinney Lake Fish Hatchery for population augmentation stocking in the fall. Duke Energy biologists had 22 more captures near Blewett Falls dam. This brought the total number of Robust Red- horse captures in NC in 2025 to 108. Fin clips were collected from all animals in NC and genetic analysis conducted by SCDNR this summer will determine whether the new fish are products of previous augmentation efforts.
BRENA JONES/NCWRC
Doug Hinshaw (NCWRC) collects eggs from a gravid Robust Redhorse female.
Cape Fear Shiner Broodstock Collection
by Brena Jones, Central Aquatic Wildlife Diversity Coordinator
T he Cape Fear Shiner is federally listed as Endangered. This minnow species is endemic to the upper portion of the Cape Fear River basin, living in complex run/riffle/pool habitats found across the NC piedmont region. In May of 2025, staff collected 91 Cape Fear Shiner from the Deep River, which were then trans- ported to the US Fish & Wildlife Service Edenton National Fish
Hatchery. These animals will be allowed to spawn in captivity, to maximize the survival of their eggs and offspring. The resulting juveniles will then be stocked back into portions of the species’ range where population levels are lower, with the goal of aug- menting numbers and increasing chances of future reproductive success in the wild. This is the fourth year of this effort.
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Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for April–June 2025
LANGSTON RIMMER/NCWRC
New Hope Creek Mussel Relocation
by Langston Rimmer, Central Aquatic Wildlife Biologist
A low water crossing in Duke Forest (Durham, NC) on New Hope Creek (Cape Fear River Basin) is planned for replace- ment with a spanning bridge that will improve aquatic organis- mal passage. Prior to construction, numerous partners, includ- ing Duke Forest and NC State, as well as other NCWRC biologists, conducted a survey to relocate the diverse and abundant mussel community upstream of the stream crossing to avoid potential impacts from the replacement of bridge. As part of this effort, the team conducted three passes of snorkel surveys which resulted in the relocation of 473 individuals across six species (Notched Rain- bow, State Threatened; Eastern Creekshell; Carolina Creekshell, State Endangered; Eastern Elliptio; and Chamaeleon Lampmussel). Along with successfully relocating a large number of mussels, the team collected genetic samples from numerous individuals to aid in future research projects. Staff collected genetic samples from 18 individuals primarily from the Chameleon Lampmussel to assist with the description of the species. Additional swabs were collected from mussels in the genus Villosa to enable future research and gain a better understanding of the phylogenetic diversity within the region.
LANGSTON RIMMER/NCWRC
Above team members from Duke Forest, NC State University, and the NCWRC gather to collect data and mark all individuals with Hallprint tags for genetic analysis at the low water crossing planned for replacement below.
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Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for April–June 2025
Monitoring the Movement and Habitat Use of Stocked Carolina Madtoms in Sandy Creek
by Michael Fisk, Eastern Aquatic Wildlife Diversity Coordinator
A WD staff have initiated a new project looking at post release movement and habitat use of propagated Caro- lina Madtoms. Carolina Madtoms are a federally endangered fish, endemic to the Tar and Neuse River basins in North Carolina. Eighty-three Carolina Madtoms, propagated in 2024, were PIT tagged at the CAC in Marion in March. No tag loss or mortality, post tag insertion, was observed. The tagged madtoms were released this spring into Sandy Creek in the Tar River Basin and are being monitored with a float- ing PIT tag antenna and reader. The portable array is 10 ft by 3 ft, which allows for active tracking and has the ability to cover more area in a shorter time than traditional portable PIT tag antennas. Tracking efforts have focused around the stocking location but have gone ~ 5 km up and downstream. When a tagged madtom is located with the large floating array, a smaller handheld antenna is utilized to find the exact location of the fish. At these locations, habitat data is col- lected including depth, substrate, flow, and cover utilized. To date, the mean distance moved of relocated madtoms is 326 m. More than half of the madtoms have moved downstream of the stocking location and have been relocated up to ~5 km downstream and ~1.5 km upstream of the stocking site. These movement patterns are similar to other species where most fish stay close to the stocking location while a few make
NCWRC
greater movements. Relocated mad- toms are utilizing similar habitats and cover as wild madtoms. Moving for- ward, tracking will continue through- out each season of 2025 and into 2026. Another objective is to tag wild Caro- lina Madtoms and compare movement between them and propagated fish. Having a better understanding of sea-
Top: EAWD biologist Mike Walter tracking PIT tagged Carolina Madtoms in Sandy Creek with a floating antenna array. Left: Carolina Madtom (Noturus furiosus) collected during PIT scanning in Sandy Creek.
sonal movements and habitat use of released madtoms will lead to more informed management decisions when working to restore this species.
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Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for April–June 2025
Hurricane Helene Monitoring and Woody Debris Technical Guidance in the Foothills Region of the Aquatic Wildlife Diversity Program
by Mike Perkins, Foothills Aquatic Wildlife Diversity Biologist
F oothills AWD staff are conducting biological and habitat assessments of many rivers and streams that were impacted by historic floods from Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Approximately half of the 30 county AWD Foothills work region was placed under a Federal Emergency declaration and many rivers have seen a wide range of impacts. Some waterways, such as the Green River in Polk and Henderson counties and Wilson Creek in Caldwell County, have experienced dramatic alter- ations to stream morphology, hydrology, and the surrounding landscape. Despite the major destruction wrought by the flood- ing, some populations of rare animals appear to have persisted, such as Brook Floaters ( Alasmidonta varicosa , NC Endangered)
in Wilson Creek, Johns River, Upper Creek, and Steele Creek, all in the Catawba River Basin. Some rare fish populations, such as the Sea- green Darter ( Etheostoma thalassinum , NC Spe- cial Concern) and Santee Chub ( Cyprinella zanema , NC Threatened) survived the fooding but with apparently diminished numbers. Other species appear to have lost some popula- tions altogether, such as Notched Rainbow
NCWRC
( Venustaconcha constricta , NC Threatened) in McDowell and Burke counties, while other species such as the South Moun- tains Crayfish ( Cambarus franklini , NC Threatened) in Burke and Catawba counties appear relatively unaffected. Debris removal partnerships and technical guidance are ongoing. In some instances, woody debris removal work, while perhaps well-intentioned, has compounded damage to ecosys- tems impacted by Hurricane Helene. For example, during post-Helene surveys conducted in Hughes Creek in June of 2025, FAWD staff collected Broad River Spiny Crayfish adults and young ( Cambarus spicatus , NC Threatened), Santee Chub and Seagreen Darter for the first time in more than 20 years, as well as the first known record of Redfin Pickerel ( Esox ameri- canus ) in the Broad River Basin. Unfortunately, much of the sta- ble and formerly intact braided wetland habitat adjacent to these survey locations has now been destroyed by heavy machinery. Ongoing monitoring will determine the resilience and status of fisheries throughout the flood-affected rivers of the AWD Foot- hills Region.
NCWRC
Top: AWD Field Supervisor TR Russ in Wilson Creek, Caldwell Coun- ty. Center: Brook Floater mussels from Upper Creek in Burke County. Bottom: Sections of Hughes Creek impacted by heavy machinery in Polk County.
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