Wildlife Diversity Report 1st Quarter 2026

NORTH CAROLINA WILDLIFE RESOURCES COMMISSION

WILDLIFE DIVERSITY PROGRAM QUARTERLY REPORT January–March 2026

Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for January–March 2026

STAY CONNECTED WITH THE N.C. WILDLIFE RESOURCES COMMISSION ncwildlife.gov

On the cover, clockwise from top left: Biologists from NCWRC and NC State Parks processing captured Neuse River Waterdogs (photo, Jeff Hall, NCWRC); Northern Saw-whet Owl captured and radio-tagged as part of a research study (photo, Clayton Gibb, NCWRC); Eastern Hellbender within the Cane River in 2011, before Hurricane Helene damaged the habitat (photo, Thomas Russ); Blue-headed Vireo family (photo, Emilia Deino, NCBA volunteer).

Left, Gopher Frog egg mass at Holly Shelter Game Land (photo, Jeff Hall, NCWRC); right, evaluation of a culvert crossing at Ground Creek (photo, RK&K).

Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for January–March 2026

Table of Contents Wildlife Diversity Program Staff ..........................................................................................................4 Coastal Colonial Wading Bird Non-Barrier Nesting Islands Show Signs of Inundation and Erosion ...........6 Collaboration Makes It Possible – Restoration of Wells Island ...............................................................7 North Carolina Bird Atlas Reaches Milestone ......................................................................................9 Northern Saw-whet Owls – Small but Demanding Our Attention .........................................................10 Winter 2026 Tricolored Bat Counts on the Rise ..................................................................................11 Partners in Restoration: Repairing Mountain Bogs with help from an American Conservation Experience Crew ..........................................................................................................................12 Hunting Tigers (Salamanders That Is!) ..............................................................................................13 Alligator Mortalities in North Carolina ...............................................................................................14 NC Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation ..........................................................................15 Encouraging eDNA Results for Eastern Hellbender from the Cane River of the Nolichucky River Drainage ..............................................................................................................................16 Trees and Turtles Don’t Mix ..............................................................................................................18 Broodstock Collection of Savannah Lilliput and Carolina Creekshell in the Upper Cape Fear Basin .......19 Spring 2026 Updates From The Foothills Aquatic Wildlife Diversity Region With a Focus On Surveys For Rare Freshwater Mussels and Fish ............................................................................................19 An Update On Freshwater Drum Reintroductions In The French Broad River .......................................20 Technical Assistance .......................................................................................................................21 Partners for Green Growth ................................................................................................................21 Conservation Partnerships ...............................................................................................................22 Cooperative Land Conservation ........................................................................................................22 Wildlife Action Plan .........................................................................................................................23 NCDOT Hurricane Helene Repairs ....................................................................................................23 Aquatic Organism Passage/Culvert Assessment ................................................................................23

Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for January–March 2026

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 Brooke Calisto, Waterbird Technician brooke.calisto@ncwildlife.gov; Carteret 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

Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for January–March 2026

Brena Jones, Landscape Planning Coordinator, Habitat Conservation Division 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 Jacob Krueger, Waterbird Technician

jacob.krueger@ncwildlife.gov; Craven County 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

Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for January–March 2026

Coastal Colonial Wading Bird Non-Barrier Nesting Islands Show Signs of Inundation and Erosion

by Kacy Cook, Waterbird Biologist, and Brooke Callisto, Waterbird Technician

W e witness ongoing changes to waterbird nesting islands in the course of conducting field surveys, but to understand the scale of change and plan for potential future habitat management that would support nesting waterbirds, a more detailed analysis of these changes was needed. To address this need, we delineated the shoreline of all known, non-barrier, coastal islands used for nesting by wad- ing birds in NC. We used nesting data going back to 1975 to identify these sites and color images on Google Earth dating back to 2003. We digitized the perimeter of the shoreline for every subsequent year for which a clear color image was avail- able. We did not measure islands that have not been known to host wading bird nesting, and we included dredge material islands with records of nesting. Looking at changes to these islands across time, we observed the following results. Of the 48 non-barrier nesting islands examined, 19 islands currently include no area of emergent habitat, 10 islands exhibit 50 to 95 percent erosion, and 19 islands are up to 25 percent eroded. Of the 12 islands with nesting wading birds in 2023, nine are up to 25 percent eroded, and three are 50 to 95 percent eroded. There is cur- rently only one island used for nesting in the Albemarle and Currituck sounds by Little Blue Herons and Snowy Egrets, two species which are declining rapidly. This island was mea- sured at 4.5 acres in 2003 and had decreased in size to 1.9 acres in 2024. Monitoring and analyzing the changes to waterbird nesting areas revealed dramatic losses in nesting habitat, demonstrat- ing the dynamic nature of these areas and suggesting that ero- sion and changing water levels are important threats for us to continue to track for the benefit of Species of Greatest Conser- vation Need.

Top, a 2003 Google Earth image of Monkey Island in the Currituck Sound; bottom, a 2024 Google Earth image of Monkey Island. This and many other bird nesting islands in North Carolina's sounds have declined in size over time.

Loggerhead sea turtle nesting crawls seen on Wrightsville Beach in the first week of July 2021.

Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for January–March 2026

Collaboration Makes It Possible – Restoration of Wells Island

by Carmen Johnson, Waterbird Biologist, and Sean Devine, Waterbird Technician

I n March 2026, the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Gator Dredging completed a dredging project near Wanchese that went beyond keeping a navigation channel open—it also restored important waterbird nesting habitat. Fishermen and recreational boaters will be familiar with the often-shallow conditions that can rapidly change in the area. As the Corps planned for the maintenance of a section of Old House Channel, they wanted to find a beneficial use for the material that would be removed from the navigation channel, rather than simply placing it offshore. NCWRC and USACE have worked together for decades to find mutually beneficial ways to keep waterways navigable while suppling sand for beaches and other islands, including those protected for nest- ing waterbirds. NCWRC owns and manages a number of islands along the coast for the conservation of nesting waterbirds. One island, known as Wells Island and located near the proposed project area, had experienced considerable erosion in recent years. Following suggestions that it would make an ideal site to place the dredged material, USACE and NCWRC staff worked together to design an island that would meet the habitat needs of the birds while also reducing erosion. The material, which would have otherwise been discarded, has created an expanse of open, sandy habitat ideal for many species of nesting water- birds. The dredged material was piped to the island, where temporary berms allowed it to accumulate in the planned area. Bulldozers were then used to smooth out and shape the newly deposited material. With development showing no sign of slowing down on the coast, and the need for waterbirds to have access to habitat free of disturbance where they can nest, partnerships such as this are critical for ensuring the future of these birds in the state. During a site visit the week after work was completed, NCWRC staff were happy to discover a pair of American Oystercatchers and group of terns exploring the newly created habitat

CARMEN JOHNSON/NCWRC

SEAN DEVINE/NCWRC

Top: Staff from Gator Dredging and the US Army Corps of Engineers celebrate the restoration of Wells Island. Middle: Dredge material is deposited onto Wells Island. Bottom: Pipes transport material from the dredge to the island.

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Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for January–March 2026

SEAN DEVINE/NCWRC

CARMEN JOHNSON/NCWRC

Left to Right: Berms prevent the loss of material from runoff. Sean Devine (NCWRC), John Policarpo, and Dean Hill (USACE) meet with the contractor completing restoration work on Wells Island.

CARMEN JOHNSON/NCWRC

Left to Right: Material pumped onto Wells Island is shaped by bulldozers and excavators. The dredge operator oversees removing material from the channel and pumping it onto Wells Island.

CARMEN JOHNSON/NCWRC

SEAN DEVINE/NCWRC

Left to Right: Habitat restoration in progress. Wells Island after restoration work was completed.

Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for January–March 2026

North Carolina Bird Atlas Reaches Milestone

by Lee Sherrill, Science Support Specialist, C.C. King, Science Support Specialist, John Carpenter, Eastern Landbird Biologist, and Scott Anderson, Science Support Coordinator

A fter five years of hard work and dedication from volunteers, staff, and partners across the state, data collection for the North Carolina Bird Atlas (NCBA) officially came to an end at 12:00 a.m. on March 1, 2026. The NCBA set out with two primary goals: 1) increase the quantity and quality of data needed to answer questions about the current and future distribu- tion, abundance, and breeding status of North Carolina’s bird species, and 2) engage North Carolinians in a large-scale con- servation effort involving landowners, citizen scientists, partners, and the general public. More than 3,500 volunteers spent an astounding 234,495 hours in the field documenting over 4.7 million bird observations in every corner of the state. From coastal marshes to mountain ridges, all those involved worked tirelessly to ensure North Carolina’s birds were represented in this historic effort. While field data collection has ended, the work of the NCBA is far from over. Over the coming months, the team will review and analyze data gathered during the project. We look forward to sharing the results and products that emerge from this historic effort as soon as they are ready!

EMILIA DEINO/NCBA VOLUNTEER

Blue-headed Vireo nest with young, https://ebird.org/checklist/S141594966

Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for January–March 2026

Northern Saw-whet Owls – Small but Demanding Our Attention

by Chris Kelly, Western Bird and Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel Biologist

D espite their diminutive size (about the size of a robin but more compact), Northern Saw-whet Owls commanded our attention in the first quarter of 2026. NCWRC and partners have kicked off two separate but complementary projects to address knowledge gaps for this owl of the highest mountains. Building on pilot survey data, Uni- versity of Kentucky Master’s student Maggie Abell is leading a study to develop standardized bioacoustics survey protocols and a statistically robust, long-term monitoring plan for NCWRC biologists. In early March, the owl team deployed 100 autonomous recording units (ARUs) across 4 massifs: Grandfather Mountain, Roan Moun- tain, the Black Mountains, and the Great Balsams, stratifying them by elevation and forest type. The SongMeter Micro ARUs record at inter- vals after dark, listening for far longer at that location than a biologist conducting a single point count at night. Also this winter, Clayton Gibb, a Western Carolina University Mas- ter’s student, began scouting the mountains for saw-whets in prepara- tion for a tagging project through Wild Bird Research Group . Gibb’s study aims to learn more about post-breeding movement patterns and important habitats and habitat features such as roost sites, nest sites, and foraging locations. Some owls will be fitted with coded VHF trans- mitters (nanotags) programmed to run for over a year. These individ- uals can be tracked on the ground with handheld receivers and can also be picked up on the Motus Wildlife Tracking Network. In fact, Gibb’s project is part of a Competitive State Wildlife Grant to build-out the Motus network in the Southeastern US. These loca- tion data can provide insight on local and migratory movements. A smaller number of owls will be fitted with GPS-Argos tags to obtain precise location fixes at regular intervals over the course of a year that can be downloaded remotely via Argos satellite. These location data can generate maps of annual movements and answer questions about site fidelity. NCWRC biologists anticipate the two studies informing each other, particularly the movement and habitat data influencing future ARU deployment strategy.

CHRIS KELLY/NCWRC

SongMeter Micro ARU deployed in a Fraser fir stand.

CLAYTON GIBB/ WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY

Northern Saw-whet Owl in hand. They are described as being small enough to fit in a coffee cup. Not that we’ve tried.

Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for January–March 2026

Winter 2026 Tricolored Bat Counts on the Rise by Katherine Etchison, Mammalogist

N CWRC staff conducted bat hibernacula counts during winter 2026 and noted increasing tricolored bat counts at five of eight long-term mountain sites surveyed. Count increases ranged from 3 to 47 tricolored bats and some of these increased counts occurred in areas that sustained severe damage from Tropical Storm Helene. Five of the hibernacula surveyed were near landslides, but no impacts to hibernacula or bats were observed. Additionally, one hibernaculum was flooded during Tropical Storm Helene, but the tricolored count remained similar to previous surveys. Four additional bat hibernacula surveys were scheduled this winter but were postponed until next year because of severe access issues resulting from tree blowdowns and landslides during Helene. Tricolored bat counts also increased in four long-term Piedmont hibernacula with one site showing an increase of 23 tricolored bats since 2024. The tricolored bat is state listed as endangered and is pro- posed to be listed as federally endangered. Populations of this species have decreased dramatically in western North Carolina since the arrival of White-nose Syndrome in the state, so documenting increas- ing hibernacula counts is a step in the right direction.

KATHERINE ETCHISON/NCWRC

Wildlife Diversity Technician, Joey Weber, looks for hibernating bats in cave.

KATHERINE ETCHISON/NCWRC

Left to Right: A tricolored bat with signs of White-nose Syndrome seen in a McDowell County hibernaculum. A cluster of hibernat- ing tricolored bats seen in a Henderson County cave.

Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for January–March 2026

Partners in Restoration: Repairing Mountain Bogs with help from an American Conservation Experience Crew

by Gabrielle Graeter, Conservation Biologist / Herpetologist and Rosie Ronca, Herpetologist Technician

I n September 2024, western North Carolina sustained immea- surable damage due to Hurricane Helene, a tropical cyclone that brought destructive flooding, winds, and landslides to the area. This unprecedented storm caused significant damage to our natural resources, including large impacts on mountain bogs via erosion, sedimentation, and flooding. Mountain bogs are a unique wetland ecosystem in the Southern Appalachian Moun- tains that hosts an incredibly biodiverse plant and animal com- munity and they are considered rare due to centuries of habitat loss and degradation. One such animal is the Bog Turtle (Glypte- mys muhlenbergii), a state (T) and federally (T(S/A) listed spe- cies identified as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in NC’s Wildlife Action Plan. Throughout 2025, our team worked tire- lessly with the help of volunteers, NCWRC staff, and conserva- tion partners to address these impacts. Despite our efforts and over 420 hours of effort, the impacts are still evident in our bogs, with some areas not providing suitable habitat for the turtles due to excessive sedimentation and impacts to wetland hydrology. To continue addressing the negative impacts of Hurricane Helene on these mountain bogs, we partnered with the American Conservation Experience (ACE) to bring a highly trained and motivated, conservation-minded work crew to our most damaged bogs. In March 2026, the contracted ACE crew removed sedi- ment, installed small log sills by hand to restore eroded areas and improve hydrology, and removed trash and other debris that was washed into the bog during the storm. This work occurred at two bogs in northwestern North Carolina across 12 days, though

most of the effort (10 days) was put into one site that required extensive restoration. At site A, the ACE crew put in almost 60 hours of work to restore habitat. Most of their time was spent removing sediment from approximately 190 m 2 and installing 15 log sills to help address erosion and maintain suitable wetland hydrology. In addition, to improve habitat conditions, they treated a non-native invasive plant species, multiflora rose, and cleared approximately 40 m 2 of tag alders. At site B, the crew installed 11 log sills to get the water to spread out and re-establish more areas with high quality wetland habitat. As they were installing logs sills, they also cut several trees, primarily tulip poplars and Virginia pine, to stop water uptake and maintain an open canopy wetland. This restoration work by our team and the ACE crew is part of an ongoing goal to take a step beyond simply restoring these bogs to their former state by building more resilience into them so they can better withstand future flooding events. An intact wet- land provides significant ecosystem services during a major storm event like Helene by holding, slowing, and absorbing flood water, thereby lessening negative storm impacts downstream. However, due to decades of habitat degradation that has been compounded by severe storms like Helene, many of these unique mountain bogs need additional help to build that resiliency. This habitat support will also help to ensure that the bog turtles in these populations, which are in decline and at risk of extirpation, can access suitable habitat to survive, reproduce, and grow in the coming decades.

Left: Members of the ACE work crew work to remove sediment from a bog using shovels and buckets. They re- moved sediment from approximately 190 m 2 of primary habitat that was impacted by severe sedimentation during the flooding associated with Hurricane Helene. Right: ACE crew members installed 26 log sills across two sites to restore hydrology and ensure ground water stays in the bog systems for as long as possible. This crew member is working to install a log sill on the right, with a previously installed log sill to his left.

GABRIELLE GRAETER/NCWRC

Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for January–March 2026

Hunting Tigers (Salamanders That Is!) by Aubrey Heupel Greene, Wildlife Diversity Biologist, Herpetologist

E very winter finds the Sandhills herpetology staff mean- dering around in ephemeral wetlands in search of State Threatened Eastern tiger salamander egg masses. This year has been no different but with drought conditions, few wet- lands were holding water – and some were completely fro- zen! Insufficient warm evening rain events meant few sala- manders (or other winter-breeding amphibians) decided to make the risky trek to breeding wetlands. Egg mass num- bers were very low compared to past years, and we only found masses at five wetlands. Most breeding occurred in early January 2026, maybe even December 2025. Thank- fully, Eastern tiger salamander populations can withstand a year without breeding success because they are so long- lived (up to 20 years). Other species, however, have much shorter lifespans (2-3 years) so recurring or multi-year drought events can decimate populations. One wetland held little to no water for much of the winter but rains in February increased water levels enough for tigers to breed. Unfortunately, this wetland is also home to HUGE numbers of broken-striped newts which can be voracious eaters of tiger salamander eggs. In fact, as we were counting the few masses laid, newts were devouring the eggs – we observed up to 10 newts on one mass! Knowing these eggs would not survive the newts, we collected them and brought them to our partners at the NC Zoo for headstarting. They are working to optimize a headstarting protocol for this spe- cies to assist declining populations in the future. Another wetland is essentially a borrow pit with frequent impacts from illegal off-road vehicle activity. The water is often compared to the color and transparency of chocolate milk – not exactly conducive for seeing egg masses under the surface! Regardless, we search it a few times each season just in case. We did so this year with no luck but returned to conduct a dipnet survey in March 2026 only to be surprised by several salamander larvae of varying sizes! Their color was abnormally light due to the wetland water and substrate (a common observation in wetlands with little to no vegeta- tion), but they were indeed Eastern tiger salamander larvae!

AUBREY HEUPEL GREENE/NCWRC

An ephemeral wetland in the Sandhills is completely frozen after a snow- storm in early February.

AUBREY HEUPEL GREENE/NCWRC

Left: A recently laid Eastern tiger salamander egg mass found in an ephemeral wetland in the Sandhills. Right: A broken-striped newt hides below an Eastern tiger salamander egg mass it was eating.

Larval Eastern tiger salamanders found while dipnetting an ephemeral wetland in the Sandhills.

MARISSA CALVERT/NCWRC

Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for January–March 2026

Alligator Mortalities in North Carolina

by Alicia Wassmer, Alligator Biologist

B etween October 1, 2024 and September 30, 2025, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) received 38 reports of alligator mortality events in 6 coastal counties from agency staff, Jurisdictional Alligator Handlers, and the public. While the cause of death was undetermined in approximately one-third of these cases, the leading cause of alli- gator mortality is motor vehicle strikes and the second-most common cause is illegal harvest. Two alligators sustained lethal injuries and were subsequently euthanized by authorized han- dlers, and three alligators were euthanized due to unnatural behavior towards people, consistent with that of alligators that have been repeatedly fed by humans. These data underscore the need for proactive measures to reduce direct and indirect anthropogenic sources of alligator mortality, while also highlighting a growing need to prevent human-alligator conflicts, particularly in areas of the coast where human populations and development are experiencing rapid increases. With these goals in mind, NCWRC is strongly promoting GatorWise (www.gatorwise.org), a regional outreach initiative developed by the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ Alligator Working Group members. The pro- gram launched in May 2025 and aims to connect residents and visitors with consistent, reliable information on how to coexist responsibly with alligators and take action to keep alligators wild and people safe.

Alligator Mortalities by Cause of Death and

County in North Carolina (October 2024 - September 2025) unknown motor vehicle strike illegally killed euthanized due to unnatural behavior euthanized due to health issues

ALICIA WASSMER/NCWRC

An adult alligator basks a few feet away from a busy road at Lake Waccamaw, Columbus County.

Double-crested Cormorant

Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for January–March 2026

NC Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation

by Jeff Hall, NC Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Biologist, and Nathan Vaughan, Herpetology Technician

A long with partner agencies, including NC State Parks, staff continued surveys for the Neuse River Waterdog ( Necturus lewisi ) with several weeks of sur- veys over the winter months. Counties targeted for surveys included Warren and Halifax. Twenty-four waterdogs were found across 12 different sites, with an additional 12 sites yielding zero captures. Results from these surveys, along with surveys from four previous years, were provided to the US Fish and Wildlife Ser- vice to be incorporated into their 5-year species status review. Plans are underway to strategize future sam- pling efforts for this federally threatened species.

JEFF HALL/NCWRC

Above Clockwise: Neuse River Waterdog; Biologists from NCWRC and NC State Parks processing waterdogs; Neuse River Waterdog.

JEFF HALL/NCWRC

Left to right: Gopher Frog egg masses; WRC Technician, Nathan Vaughan, points to a Gopher Frog egg mass; Gopher Frog egg masses hatching out in captivity for head-starting. A longside waterdog surveys, staff were hoping for rain to facilitate breeding for several imperiled winter-breeding frog and salamander species, such as Gopher Frog, Ornate Chorus Frog, Southern Chorus Frog, Mabee’s Salamander, and Eastern Tiger Salamander. Although most populations of these species had either little or no breeding, one population of Gopher Frogs at the Holly Shelter Game Land had an incredible breeding year, producing over 70 egg masses - by far the most egg masses staff have ever detected in this population! This amazing breeding output likely resulted from multiple efforts to bolster this population. Staff have worked for over a decade to restore borrow pits into breeding ponds by removing overstory vegetation, adding organic soils, and planting grassy vegetation. Partnerships with other groups, such as the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher, have yielded the ability to head-start tadpoles into juvenile frogs in an effort to increase the overall population. Land and Water Access staff have altered the timing of prescribed fire to focus on the later growing season (some- times also called “lightning season”) in a zone around the breeding ponds to protect breeding adults moving across the landscape during the winter months. All these strategies seem to be working well in this coastal landscape and, together, give hope for the long-term survival of the Gopher Frog.

Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for January–March 2026

Encouraging eDNA Results for Eastern Hellbender from the Cane River of the Nolichucky River Drainage by Lori Williams, Western Region Amphibian Biologist

T he Cane River (Yancey County; Nolichucky River drainage) was one of the most damaged waterways in western North Carolina from the historic flood of Hurricane Helene in September 2024. As previously reported, one species that had hundreds of mortalities in this drainage is the Eastern Hellbender ( Cryptobranchus a. alleganiensi s), state special concern, federally proposed endangered. In the last quarter of 2025, staff collected water samples for environmental DNA (eDNA), testing to see if hellbenders were still present up and down the Cane River. Nine river reaches were sampled, from the mouth at the confluence with the Toe River, all the way upstream to the Murchison community. Staff received the lab results for those eDNA tests in the first quarter of 2026. The outcome was much better than anticipated with 7 out of 9 reaches having a positive detection for hell- bender, even in the lower sections of the Cane River, below US-19E, where the most damage from Helene occurred. These surprising results give us hope that some hellbenders did survive the flood and may help recolonize the sections of the river where mortalities were so high — if current habitat conditions allow. While these positive eDNA samples are a great sign, we still do not know how many hellbenders are left, much less if they are able to breed successfully; even just one animal in the reach could result in a positive eDNA sample. In the upcoming survey season, we will rely on these eDNA results to focus our efforts on specific reaches, as we try to determine the current population status.

LORI WILLIAMS/NCWRC

The lower Cane River in the Nolichucky River drainage showing severe bank scour, one year after Hurricane Helene flooding.

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A healthy, adult hellbender in high-quality habitat in the Cane River back in 2011.

THOMAS RUSS/NCWRC

Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for January–March 2026

LORI WILLIAMS/NCWRC

Left to Right: One year after Hurricane Helene: The lower Cane River in the Nolichucky River drainage showing the massive damage the flood caused in the waterway with a narrowing and shallowing of the channel and extensive cobble deposits. The lower Cane River in the Nolichucky River drainage with severe damage from Hurricane Helene floodwaters; note the heavy machinery in the background, as debris removal and reconstruction projects continue. The lower Cane River in the Nolichucky River drainage with severe bank scour, one year after Hurricane Helene flooding.

LORI WILLIAMS/NCWRC

Left to Right: The lower Cane River in the Nolichucky River drainage, significantly damaged by Hurricane Helene floodwaters, with a now rebuilt US-19W. Wildlife Diversity technician, Rosie Ronca, collecting water for environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling to see if any Eastern Hellbenders remain in this part of Cane River one year after Hurricane Helene significantly damaged the river. The mouth of Cane River at the confluence with the North Toe River, showing the severe damage Hurricane Helene left behind.

Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for October–December 2025

Trees and Turtles Don’t Mix

by Matthew Godfrey, State Sea Turtle Biologist, and Sarah Finn, NC Stranding and Salvage Network Coordinator

N orth Carolina has close to 330 miles of sandy beaches along the coast that are used as nesting habitat by sea turtles during summer and fall months each year. The WRC North Car- olina Sea Turtle Project works closely with local, county, and state officials to ensure that coastal beaches remain free of objects that may obstruct access of sea turtles to this habitat. For instance, many coastal towns have ordinances that require all beach furniture to be removed from the strand by sundown to ensure that adult female sea turtles can freely move about the beach at night, when they normally lay eggs. In early February 2026, a local coastal advocacy group orga- nized the placement of discarded Christmas trees on the beach strand at Carolina Beach, with the intention of encouraging the capture of wind-blown sand to facilitate dune formation and growth. In some places, the trees were placed on the flat beach strand, where turtles normally nest. Biologists with WRC worked with the NC Division of Coastal Management, the Town of Car- olina Beach, and the local advocacy group to remove improperly placed trees before the expected start of the 2026 sea turtle nest- ing season in early May. Biologists with WRC continue to part- ner with coastal communities to ensure that healthy beach hab- itats are maintained for coastal wildlife in North Carolina.

MATTHEW GODFREY/NCWRC

Improperly placed old Christmas trees on the flat beach strand of Carolina Beach.

MATTHEW GODFREY/NCWRC

Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for January–March 2026

Broodstock Collection of Savannah Lilliput and Carolina Creekshell in the Upper Cape Fear Basin

by Langston Rimmer, Central Region Aquatic Wildlife Diversity Biologist

S taff conducted six snorkel surveys in tributaries to the Deep River in search of broodstock for two state endangered mussels, the Carolina Creekshell ( Sagittunio vaughanianus) and Savannah Lilliput ( Toxolasma pullus ). Staff put in a total of 78 per- son-hours during these surveys and successfully located three gravid Savannah Lilliput in Richland Creek and one gravid Carolina Creekshell from New Hope Creek. The Savannah Lilliput were transferred to Yates Mill Aquatic Conservation Center and the Carolina Creekshell was transferred to the Greensboro Science Center where they will begin propagation efforts. Once propaga- tion is complete staff will use the propagated individuals to augment existing populations in the upper Cape Fear River Basin.

Spring 2026 Updates From The Foothills Aquatic Wildlife Diversity Region With a Focus On Surveys For Rare Freshwater Mussels and Fish

by Mike Perkins, Foothills Aquatic Wildlife Diversity Coordinator

S taff conducted six snorkel surveys in tributaries to the Deep River in search of broodstock for two state endangered mus- sels, the Carolina Creekshell ( Sagittunio vaughanianus) and Savannah Lilliput ( Toxolasma pullus ). Staff put in a total of 78 person-hours during these surveys and successfully located three gravid Savannah Lilliput in Richland Creek and one gravid Carolina Creekshell from New Hope Creek. The Savan- nah Lilliput were transferred to Yates Mill Aquatic Conserva- tion Center and the Carolina Creekshell was transferred to the Greensboro Science Center where they will begin propagation efforts. Once propagation is complete staff will use the propa- gated individuals to augment existing populations in the upper Cape Fear River Basin.

THOMAS RUSS/NCWRC

Above: FAWD staff, left to right: Mike Perkins, Maddie Roark, Chantelle Rondel searching for gravid Brook Floaters in the Roaring River. Left: Seagreen darter collected during monitoring in the First Broad River.

THOMAS RUSS/NCWRC

Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for January–March 2026

An Update On Freshwater Drum Reintroductions In The French Broad River

by Dylan Owensby, Western Aquatic Wildlife Diversity Biologist

B iologists with the Western Region of the Aquatic Wildlife Diversity (AWD) Program have continued efforts to restore Freshwater Drum, Aplodinotus grun- niens , populations in the upper French Broad River. Freshwater Drum, North Carolina State Listed as Special Concern, are one of many fish species that are found in the lower French Broad River that are currently unable to occupy their former native range farther upstream. A combination of past water quality issues and three dams on the mainstem French Broad, all of which are located downstream of Asheville, has prevented the fish from returning to large portions of the watershed that they once inhabited. This spring, 70 Freshwater Drum were collected by biologists with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency in the French Broad River at the mouth of Lake Douglas in Tennessee. AWD biologists then translocated the fish to the upper French Broad River near Etowah, NC. Each Freshwater Drum was implanted with a Passive Inte- grated Transponder (PIT) tag to evaluate survival and growth of recaptured individuals. PIT tags will also help evaluate the use of restored slough habitats that have recently been created in the upper French Broad River. Three of the sloughs are outfitted with PIT tag antennas and will detect the Freshwater Drum when they enter the newly established habitat. Since Spring 2023, AWD biol- ogists have translocated 403 Freshwater Drum to the upper French Broad River. Not only will the reintroduction of species like the Freshwater Drum help to reestablish the native fish assemblage of the upper French Broad River, but these efforts will also improve mussel populations by establish- ing an important host fish for imperiled mussel species. For example, Freshwater Drum are the only known fish host for the Pink Heelsplitter, Potamilus alatus. The Pink Heelsplitter, North Carolina State Listed as Special Con- cern, is only found where Freshwater Drum occur and they currently only have a limited distribution in the Madison County portion of the French Broad River in North Carolina.

DYLAN OWENSBY/NCWRC

Above: NCWRC Aquatic Wildlife Diversity Technician, Quentin LaChance, releasing Freshwater Drum into the French Broad River in Etowah, NC. Below: Freshwater Drum from the French Broad River at Lake Douglas, Tennessee.

DYLAN OWENSBY/NCWRC

Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for January–March 2026

HABITAT CONSERVATION

Technical Assistance

Staff have provided technical assistance to multiple community groups and local governments. These technical assistance interac- tions include: • Green Growth Toolbox Half-Day Workshop in Wake Forest • Wake Forest Conservation Alliance • Wake County Comprehensive Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan • Subdivision development review for Town of Apex Planning Department • Subdivision development review for City of Durham Planning Commission • Conservation subdivision guidance for M/I Homes • Collaboration with the Office of Conservation Policy & Analysis to begin an evaluation of the Green Growth Toolbox Program • Orange County Commission for the Environment State of the Environment Report • Rezoning review for Stokes County • Uwharrie Point Community Wildlife Conservation Program – a subdivision community program that works to establish pol- linator habitat, nesting boxes for multiple species, wildlife occurrence data, and restoration and maintenance of wetlands throughout the community. • First Tee – a nonprofit organization working to involve children and teens in underserved communities in golf. First Tee has acquired property that they would also like to establish an environmental education program for communities and hope to restore and maintain wetland and upland communities on the property.

Partners for Green Growth

Recipients of the Partners for Green Growth cost-share program in 2024 and 2025 have been moving forward with their projects, with two projects in the final stages of completion. • The Town of Brevard held a public hearing on its Green Growth Audit and Implementation Guide that reviews resources in the town, an audit of their UDO as it pertains to conservation and sustainability, and future implementation steps. The goal is to adopt this guidance document as an appendix to its comprehensive plan. • Pender County has completed their Partners for Green Growth project. Their Preferred Development Guide is intended to guide future development away from sensitive natural resources and promote conservation. • Union County has completed their Rural Land Use Plan and drafted ordinance language. The county is in progress on their Conservation Subdivision Brochure. • Buncombe County has kicked off their project with a public meeting to guide the Swannanoa Small Area Plan. The county is working with staff to create action items for conserving natural resources in the Swannanoa area. • Chatham County continues to make progress on the development of a web-based conservation implementation tracker to share progress on the conservation goals, actions, and activities identified in their comprehensive plan

Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for January–March 2026

Conservation Partnerships

Staff are actively involved in several conservation partnerships around North Carolina. Partnerships with notable involvement include the Triangle Connectivity Collaborative, Chatham Conservation Partnership, NC Natural and Working Lands Steering Committee, Onslow Bight Conservation Forum, the Southeast Regional Partnership for Planning and Sustainability (SERPPAS), NC Bat Working Group, NC Sandhills Conservation Partnership, NC Chapter of The Wildlife Society, and the Eastern North Car- olina Sentinel Landscape Partnership. Over the last quarter: • Staff have helped plan and execute the NC Chapter of The Wildlife Society’s Annual Meeting. • Staff are assisting the Onslow Bight Conservation Forum in organizing their Private Lands Working Group and developing an outreach and technical assistance program for private landowners in the Onslow Bight. • Staff is working with NC Sandhills Conservation Partnership to plan a meeting themed around land use planning and con- servation, with plans to invite local governments within the NCSCP to participate. • Staff have volunteered to participate on the Cape Fear Arch steering committee and has given a presentation on the Green Growth Toolbox during the last quarterly meeting. • Staff facilitated a quarterly Triangle Connectivity Collaborative meeting on the proposed Durham Land Development Code.

Cooperative Land Conservation

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL GRANT – The clay pad has been installed for the hoop house at the Sandhills Depot (pic attached) and construction will be complete by July 2026. This was funded by an America the Beautiful Grant to provide Sandhills and Coastal Plain native plants to landowners. It will also be used for Depot projects, including rare plant propagation and restoration of select areas on Game Lands. COMPETITIVE STATE WILDLIFE GRANT – We received cSWG funding to deter- mine population status, host plant preference, and genetic composition of frosted elfin populations in NC. This is a multi-state grant in association with FL, LA, GA, and VA that will occur over the next three years and focus on surveys in the Sandhills and Coastal Plain. We recently deployed a Survey 123 to gain the public’s assistance with sightings across the State so we can learn more about this butterfly’s distribution. BUMBLE BEE ATLAS – The Southeast Bumble Bee Atlas, a community science proj- ect covering NC, SC, GA, and TN, is preparing to kick off its 4th year of surveys. NCWRC is a primary partner, and NC leads the survey count across all four states. For information on 2025 highlights, click this link: https://www.bumblebeeatlas. org/pages/southeast-bumble-bee-atlas-2025-season-highlights~2526cbc02f d9499b933ca85ce5f35cba

Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for January–March 2026

Wildlife Action Plan

The 2025 NC State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) was approved by the US Fish and Wildlife Service in January 2026. Subsequently, SWAP web page has been updated to provide public access to the approved Plan. Also, a vendor has been hired to typeset, lay out images, and produce a print-ready version of the SWAP.

NCDOT Hurricane Helene Repairs

The Western NCDOT coordinator assisted the NCDOT with development of mea- sures to help off-set impacts to wildlife habitat connectivity associated with repair work along I-40 in Haywood County. This included a January 13, 2026 field meeting between the coordinator and NCDOT representatives and hydraulic design engineers from RK&K.

Aquatic Organism Passage/Culvert Assessment • During Q1 2026, Jacob Freedman completed the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Fish Passage Program grant in the Neuse and Tar river basins. At the expiration of grant funding in late February, 474 culverts were assessed using the SARP protocol, with 74 assessments occurring in Q1. Final QAQC is underway and a summary report will be generated which will include analysis on which culvert characteristics correlated most strongly with passability scores. • In Mid-February, Karl Taggart was hired as the Aquatic Species Passage Techni- cian. His assistance has been instrumental as work has begun on a NFWF Coastal Resiliency Grant to assess culverts in the North Carolina Coastal Plain with a focus on passage for river herring. As of March 24th, about 110 assessments have been completed. And an enormous beaver dam was discovered near Tarboro!

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www.ncwildlife.gov

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