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
18
LORI WILLIAMS/NCWRC
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator