Chapter 4 Habitats
4.4.20.6 Recommendations Conflicts with humans have resulted in the restriction of these species to large blocks of mixed habitat where human density and intrusion are minimal. Even Black Bears, which in some areas have adapted to human presence as garbage raiders, are highly unlikely to persist without these large, sparsely settled blocks of habitat. These species require large blocks of habitat where density of human settlement or intensity of human intrusion is relatively low. More than any other, this group requires landscape-level conservation, particularly the protection of large areas of habitat—natural or mixed—from increased density of human settlement.
4.4.20.6.1 Surveys Distributional and status surveys need to focus on species that use this community.
Priority Conservation Action, Examples of Focal Species or Focal Habitats
• Conduct surveys for species for which current distribution information is already available or for species that are considered common or invasive. Coyote Gray Fox Raccoon • Develop long-term monitoring strategies to document population trends, from which conservation strategies can be specifically designed to target those species. Coyote 4.4.20.6.2 Monitoring Long-term monitoring is critical to assessing species and ecosystem health over time and gauging the resilience of organisms to a changing climate. These efforts will inform future decisions on how to manage species and their habitats. Studies should include identification of population trends, as well as assessment of impacts from conservation or development activities. Long-term monitoring sites need to be identified and monitoring protocols developed for all priority species. Monitoring plans should be coordinated with other existing monitoring programs where feasible.
Priority Conservation Action, Examples of Focal Species or Focal Habitats
• Develop long-term monitoring strategies to document population trends, from which conservation strategies can be specifically designed to target those species.
• Expand and/or target monitoring systems to assess current population status and trend information for all wildlife species associated with this habitat.
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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