2025 Wildlife Diversity Program Annual Report
T he North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission’s (NCWRC) Wildlife Diversity (WD) Program is housed within the agency’s Wildlife Management and Inland Fisheries (Aquatic Wildlife Diversity) divisions. Program responsibilities principally include surveys and monitoring, research, and other projects for nongame and endangered wildlife species. Nongame species are animals without an open hunting, fishing or trapping season.
Program Updates - 2025 WILDLIFE DIVERSITY PROGRAM, WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT DIVISION It was all hands on deck in the Western Region to assess damage to habitat and species from Hurricane Helene, such as riverine scouring, landslides, sediment-carrying flood waters, and snapped and downed trees. Restoration work was a significant focus in 2025 and will continue for many years. The Sandhills region continued to experience dry con- ditions, affecting ephemeral ponds and adjacent habitats supporting several amphibians that are Species of Greatest Conservation Need. In late spring, however, heavy rains resulted in later than usual breeding and production of egg masses by Gopher Frogs. In the Eastern Region, sampling for the federally threatened Neuse River Waterdog continued and a research study that will include eDNA sampling was designed with partners from NCSU. A multi-year research project on American Alligator survey design was wrapped up, and results will improve our survey strategies. Hard work and ingenuity are helping us learn much more about the Eastern Black Rail, migra- tory bird movements and survival, and sea turtle breeding behaviors. NCWRC staff and volunteers completed the last breeding season surveys for the NC Bird Atlas, NCWRC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the USFWS to work through the NC Red Wolf Team on recovery actions in the Final Revised Recovery Plan, and the agency’s Wildlife Action Plan was finalized and submitted for review by the USFWS. 2025 was a busy, productive year for the Wildlife Diversity Program.
NCWILDLIFE.GOV
EASTERN BLACK RAIL (Laterallus jamaicensis jamaicensis)
EASTERN BLACK RAIL Conservation Plan for North Carolina
May 21, 2025
EXHIBIT L
CHRISTY HAND/SCDNR
HABITAT CONSERVATION DIVISION The Habitat Conservation Division continued working to protect Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) and con- serve working lands by on-the-ground conservation, technical guidance, wildlife surveys, and providing recommendations on regulatory permits. In 2025, staff biologists reviewed and provided recommendations on some 1,700 development proj- ects. These projects spanned nearly every type and every habitat in North Carolina. From stream restorations as part of Helene Recovery efforts in the mountains to the Wilmington Harbour expansion at the coast, our biologists provide recom- mendations to minimize harm to all wildlife species and promote public access. The NC State Wildlife Action Plan 2025 (SWAP) revision was submitted and approved by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The Plan identifies fish, wildlife, plant, and insect SGCN, as well as research and management priorities for other species. The SGCN evaluation for the 2025 Plan identified 434 fish and wildlife SGCN, lower than the 457 identified in the 2015 Plan, thanks in part to the conservation work and efforts over the last 10 years. An expanded SGCN list was included in the 2025 Plan to include 462 plants, 229 insects, and 29 marine species. The Division continues working with municipalities and local governments to promote conservation opportunities using the Green Growth Toolbox and corresponding Partners of Green Growth grant program (PGG). The 2 new PGG projects funded in 2025 included Buncombe and Union counties. Grant funding through America the Beautiful and the US Fish and Wildlife Service has allowed the Division to continue WAP implementation projects. The focus of this work is on-the-ground SGCN conservation. These funds will allow our biologists to remove dams that are barriers to aquatic organism passage, assess culverts affecting fish movements, research native plants serving as hosts for rare insects, and restore the habitats required by those insects and many other SGCN species.
4 2025 WILDLIFE DIVERSITY PROGRAM ANNUAL REPORT
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