Chapter 3 North Carolina Species
Sea turtles represent a group of species where intensive management is now necessary to maintain or increase populations (NCWRC 2024b) . Turtle nests must be marked to allow natural incubation, with some receiving predator exclusion material to minimize mammalian predators, and nests are monitored to determine incubation success. Anthropogenic threats to sea turtles in coastal waters include bycatch in fisheries, hopper dredges, and other activities, which require collaborative relationships with various stakeholders to minimize lethal interactions. Many reptile species are also prioritized due to their vulnerability to modern stressors. Although Timber Rattlesnake populations on EBCI lands appear stable, the species is frequently persecuted and therefore remains at risk. Since 2022, EBCI has conducted a mark-recapture study to track individuals, reduce human-wildlife conflict, and promote public awareness of the species’ ecological role. 3.8.6 Threats and Problems Chapter 5 describes 11 categories of threats the Taxa Teams considered during the evaluation and ranking process to identify SGCN. Evaluation results for Metric 9 about the expected scope and severity of these threats are available in Appendix 5, as noted below. The results indicate that the threats most likely to create significant impacts to reptile populations in North Carolina over the next 10 years include the following: • Climate change and severe weather (see Appendix 5, Table 5.12-1) • Illegal Collection (see Appendix 5, Table 5.8-1) • Natural systems modifications (e.g., fire suppression, land management activities) (see Appendix 5, Table 5.9-1)
• Residential and commercial development (see Appendix 5, Table 5.3-1) • Transportation and service corridors (see Appendix 5, Table 5.6-1)
Research related to these threats and their impacts on certain reptile species was ranked as a high priority. Habitat loss, modification, and mismanagement should be a focus of efforts to reduce threats to many species of reptiles. Snake Fungal Disease ( Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola ) is an emerging pathogen confirmed in neighboring Tennessee. It poses a significant risk to native snake populations. EBCI biologists regularly examine individual snakes captured during fieldwork to inspect for external signs of infection, including facial swelling, skin nodules, and lesions. There is an opportunity for collaboration between the EBCI and NCWRC to expand disease surveillance and better understand the prevalence of this emerging threat. Three introduced species have been documented in the state. They are the Texas Horned Lizard, Mediterranean Gecko, and Brown Anole, but none of the populations of these species appear to be widespread. Breeding populations exist for both Texas Horned Lizard and Mediterranean Gecko, but no breeding activity has yet been detected for Brown Anoles in the
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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