Chapter 3 North Carolina Species
• State protected species conservation plans are available online https://www.ncwildlife.gov/wildlife-habitat/species-conservation-plans.
• Federal protected species recovery plans are available online https://www.fws.gov/program/recovery/recovery-plans.
Implementation of recommendations for surveys, monitoring, and research should follow best practices and protocols established by recognized authorities (see Chapter 7 for information about standard protocols). The following recommendations should be considered appropriate to implement for mammal species. 3.7.8.1 Surveys Surveys are systematic and scientific methods of collecting information about the distribution, abundance, and ecology of wildlife or their habitats in a specific area at a specific time. Repeated surveys using the same methods (i.e., Christmas Bird Count) can provide census information about a species over time. Common survey methods include transect walks, point counts, camera trapping, and acoustic monitoring. Distributional and status surveys need to focus on species believed to be declining or mainly dependent on at-risk or sensitive natural communities.
Priority Conservation Action, Examples of Focal Species or Focal Habitats • Prioritize surveys of bat species most impacted by WNS. Eastern Small-footed Bat Little Brown Bat Northern Long-eared Bat Tricolored Bat
Indiana Bat
• Prioritize surveys for Southern Appalachian, Allegheny, and Eastern woodrats. Allegheny Woodrat Eastern Wood Rat Southern Appalachian Woodrat • Prioritize surveys for Appalachian Cottontail to determine the current distribution and abundance of the population in NC. Appalachian Cottontail • Establish new survey sites in areas impacted by extreme weather events (i.e., tornados, hurricanes, flooding) to begin assessing effects on wildlife. Revisit existing survey sites to determine impacts of extreme weather and other events.
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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